Avoiding the buldge this Christmas

As a personal trainer, Christmas is one of the hardest periods to help my clients stay focused and eat well. Along side Christmas having meanings of religion, family and giving, a huge modern focus is on over indulging, eating to excess and moving less.

It’s these aspects that can often lead to some serious weight gain in the festive period. So, here are my tips for beating the bulge this festive season.
1. Christmas is one day, not two weeks. Whatever treats you might line up and traditions you might have, one day won’t sabotage but two weeks might. So don’t go over board.
2. The Christmas shop. This is the most important part of any healthy eating plan but even more important at Christmas. You’ll be bombarded with “two for one”, “BOGOF” and “Christmas specials”. Write a list, stick to your list and don’t buy the tin of chocolates JUST because of it’s “never seen before” special offer.
3. KEEP MOVING. A family walk on Christmas day or boxing day bike ride are actually lovely ways to spend time together (British weather permitting!). So get the new scarf and glove set on and get outside over Christmas. You will not regret it!

4. Avoid all-you-can eat buffets if you’re on a Christmas party. They’re a disaster waiting to happen! (Click here to read our blog on All-You-Can-Eat buffets!)

5. Drink plenty of water. Sounds obvious but people forget. Spread the alcohol out with h2o and also make sure you don’t over eat due to thirst.
6. Don’t wait for  the new year to make resolutions, change happens when you begin, that can be a Tuesday, a bank holiday or any day in between! Set some goals, get someone on board with you and get to it!


Remember, any situation at any time, you have a choice, so make them wisely. A little treat won’t be what makes you need to loosen the belt another notch but a few weeks of bad choices will. Enjoy time with your family and friends, eat well and keep moving!

Hannah Johnson
Chief Catalyst at Lean Body Vision
www.leanbodyvision.com 
@leanbodyvision

The danger of the ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT-BUFFET!

If you're like me, you get excited about food and when you make plans to eat out you think about all the lovely things you can have and occasionally catch yourself drooling about it...or is that bit just me?!
Now, I was brought up in a nutritionally conscientious house hold with good food and a positive message about eating my veggies and finishing my dinner. I'll be forever grateful for being brought up with good food and not having to battle with salt and sugar addictions but one thing I cannot handle is an all you can eat buffet. There are two forms these come into my life; 1: The modern day evening dining "get your monies worth" buffet or more commonly for me 2: The hotel breakfast buffet. Regardless of sort my eyes become larger at the mention of the buffet.

Now there are two issues for me with the buffet. The first is financial. You've paid for ALL you can eat right? You didn't pay for a plate full and you know that and they know that so it's almost a challenge from the offset? The second issue is simply greed I suppose! It's there, I eat and eat and then regret it!
I've even been known to do preparation before or after a buffet. Training twice that day. Having such a big brekkie you don't actually eat for what feels like weeks after because you're so full. My wonderful grand mothers trick of popping a few extras in my hand bag to truly get financial benefit (usually you keep these till they're stale/gone bad and then bin them but still you feel better for it!). It's all quite ridiculous!

So, as I see it, there are three options for people like me.
1. Never go near an all you can eat buffet!
2. Goal set - assess said buffet, choose your battle and do not exceed your goals!
3. Find a friend who can physically restrain you
4. Remember you need to a) taste and b) enjoy your food to actually get your monies worth. SLOW DOWN, chew your food and if you have to, sit on your hands between mouth fulls!

I have accepted it's a weakness in my life so option 1 is often best. It proves one of my first pieces of advice to clients - if it's there, you can be sure you'll eat it. So super market shopping and avoiding all you can buffets go hand in hand for importance of healthy eating and especially for weight management. All inclusive holidays clearly are the same issue but times by 7 or 14 days for impact. I've worked with clients who have come to me post holiday after putting over a stone on in two weeks on holiday! It proves, as humans, these situations cause issues! If you have those tendencies - don't book all inclusive!
It's important to mention the 80%-20% rule here. What's your 80%? Good or bad? It's also important to mention that not everyone suffers from All-you-can-eat buffet syndrome!

Till next time, stay away from the buffet (note to self!)

Hannah Johnson
Chief Catalyst
Lean Body Vision
www.leanbodyvsion.com
@leanbodyvision