That time of year is almost upon us, where we gather with friends and family for the holidays and to commemorate the year gone by. For most people, the main event at any holiday party, Thanksgiving through New Year's is the food! For people trying to lose weight over the holidays, all this food can be a bit overwhelming. Our team of doctors at Northway Medical Associates specializes in helping patients with weight loss in Fulton & Baldwinsville, NY and we know how hard it is to maintain your weight loss regime over the holidays. Unless you have an Iron will, chances are you’re going to give in at least a little over the holidays. To help you keep on the right track, here are a few tips on how to come out on the other side of the new year well on your way to weight loss.
Only Visit Your Scale Twice A Week
Staying on track with your weight loss goals is hard enough and tracking your weight daily makes it even harder. Plus, the more you focus on the weight you still would like to lose the more likely you are to stress about weight gain. A better idea is only to weigh yourself twice a week. This is enough to track your progress without fixating on it. The best time to weigh yourself is as soon as you wake up in the morning while you still have an empty stomach.
Exercise in The Morning
Getting up and going directly to the gym or working out might sound terrible, but it’s the best thing you can do for your body when you’re trying to lose weight. Getting your blood flowing and your heart rate up early in the morning preps your metabolism and sets you in the right frame of mind to be more cognizant of what you’re eating throughout the day. You don’t have to have an epic one-hour power workout either. A simple 30 minutes in the morning can go miles in helping you throughout the day.
Willpower Isn’t Just for Food
We use willpower throughout the day without even knowing it, and the more often we hold back, the better off our willpower is for it. Becoming more mindful in the decisions we make throughout the day will help during the holidays. Helping us say no to that piece of pumpkin pie or seconds on mashed potatoes.
Pick Your Battles Wisely
By far the hardest part about the holidays are the buffets of food you have to stare at! While resisting all your favorite holiday foods might sound like the best way to stave of weight gain this holiday season, we disagree. We think you should give in just a little during the holidays to help keep you from overeating. Picking one or two of your favorite holiday foods will help you have the willpower to fend off other holiday treats that you might not enjoy as much. Just make sure to not overeat on your favorites!
Don’t Scarf Down Your Food
In the years of helping patients lose weight in Fulton, NY we’ve learned that eating too fast is always a bad idea. Eating quickly means your body doesn’t have enough time to tell you when it’s full, which leads to overeating. A great way to overcome this is by making sure to chew slowly and enjoy your food. Eating slowly allows your body to tell you-you're full more easily. It also means your food is easier to digest, which could help your metabolism. Plus, since you're only eating your absolute favorite holiday foods, you can enjoy them more. While we encourage our patients always to take it easy when eating, we think it's especially important during the holidays.
Contact Northway Medical Associates Today!
Even if the holidays are just around the corner, it's never too late to start losing weight! Our Dr.’s are here to help you lose weight safely and efficiently with our medical weight loss program. If you’d like to learn more or schedule an appointment to talk about medical weight loss, contact our offices in Fulton and Baldwinsville, NY today. We hope to see you soon!