Aren’t there more number of holidays than the number of months in a year? In spite of agreeing, we cannot deny how they turn out to be the biggest cheat days and result into depressing holiday overeating.

From late night wine parties to morning hangovers, from barbeque nights to hopping into the city lights, we definitely find an excuse to dive into the lip-smacking delicacies down the lane.

However, the pros of overeating soon dawns upon, bringing along unhealthy weight gain, ample diseases, dullness, fatigue and loss of concentration. Thus, it is necessary to avoid overeating during the holidays and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, if we want the fun and frolic in the long run.

Must Read: 10 Appetite Suppressing Foods to Help Lose Weight Safely and Naturally

Diseases Caused by Overeating on Holidays

If you are ready with the list of dishes to gorge on the next holiday, you might want to put a check on gaining weight over the holidays. Besides, overeating during the holidays eventually invites several unwanted diseases which are sure to trouble you for the rest of your lives. Here are some of the diseases caused by unplanned, unhealthy binge eating:

• Diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Gastritis
• Gastrointestinal anomaly
• Stomach ailments
• Thyroid
• Cholesterol
• Muscle strain
• Anxiety

Tips for Enjoying Healthy Holidays

Controlling your binge eating habits should be the preliminary tip to remember this vacation. However, here are some useful tips to help you switch into a healthier lifestyle:

1. Practice Yoga 

Stressing on the benefits of practising yoga regularly, B.K.S Iyengar, the author of Light on Yoga has quoted-

“Yoga allows you to find an inner peace that is not ruffled and riled by the endless stresses and struggles of life”.

The various “yogasanas” practised since time immemorial act as medicine to almost every kind of diseases prevailing on earth.

2. Meditate Regularly

Meditating for 20-30 minutes every day leads to increased concentration, improved self-control and better health altogether.

3. Go Jogging

Jogging early in the morning exposes you to fresher air and lesser pollution. Jogging every day for 30-minutes keeps diabetes at bay, improves respiration, and keeps you healthy.

Also Read: Frugal Christmas: How to Plan and Enjoy Christmas on a Tight Budget

Watchful Eating Tips to Control Overeating During the Holidays

Since we cannot stop ourselves from enjoying the refreshing holidays, the least we can do is put a check on the eating habits. For a healthy lifestyle, one should be equally fit physically and mentally. Hence, here is a list of tips and tricks to control holiday overeating to keep the diseases at bay.

1. Do Not Skip Breakfast

Irrespective of your lunch and dinner plans, do not skip breakfast in the morning. As said by Bruce Barton:

“Cereal eating is almost a marker for a healthy lifestyle. It sets you up for the day, so you don’t overeat”.

Light soup or a bowl of healthy cereal would be the best to consider. Apart from that, always include green salad in the meal before starting your day. This will keep you fresh and bless your skin with a noticeable bright glow.

2. Keep Yourself Hydrated

• Dehydration can automatically lead to fatigue and tiredness. If you do not want to waste a perfectly planned holiday, get your water bottle ready. If you do not feel thirsty frequently, try to consume one glass of fresh fruit juice or lime water (with no added sugar) in the morning. Having said that, remember that the benefits of plain water can never be replaced.
• Always drink a glass of water before starting with alcohol. Besides, we highly advise the consumption of zero-calorie alcoholic drinks as it reduces the chances of morning hangovers, uneasy after party effects and gaining weight over the holidays.

3. Avoid Consuming Too Much Alcohol

Too much of anything is not good for health. However, we also know how hard it is to resist raising a toast at any occasion. May it be a family get together or casual hangout with friends, do not let one glass of wine turn into two, three or more. Stop right there!

If resisting yourself from getting served another drink seems to be too awful when others are turning their bottoms up, then slow yourself. Instead of gulping down in one go, try sipping with intervals. That way, you will be able to continue one drink all the way when others would prepare themselves for a morning hangover.

4. Eat Less

Quality over quantity is the mantra that would take you through this dilemma. It is always better to taste your favorite dish than completely cutting it off and sobbing in one corner. Munch on one cookie, eat only a handful of chips, a slice of pizza or half a spoon of Nutella (quite hard but better than not skipping it forever).

When in a buffet or dining out, always serve yourself once and never look back. This would include a variety of flavors in your platter without leading to overeating during the holidays.

5. Plan Your Diet for Christmas and New Year

As said by LaMarr Woodley:

“You don’t want to overeat too much because then you have to work twice as hard.”

However, resisting yourself from overeating at Christmas and New Year seems to be the hardest deal. Make this Christmas a healthier Christmas by avoiding excess cake. If you are the host of the party, then serve the larger portion to the guest and spare only one tiny proportion at the end. Make sure you are not left with any after finishing off your share.

Prefer baked goods for the holidays and avoid loading the fridge or kitchen with unwanted junk and refrain from gaining weight over the holidays.

6. Replace Deep Fried with Air Fried

If you are someone who loves to cook delicious dishes and sharing them with your beloved during the holidays, then you would surely thank us for the advice.

May it be the frozen fries decked up from malls or any new preparation that needs deep frying, always stuff them inside the air friers. The no-oil technology helps in cutting off excess oil and help in maintaining a healthier food habit.

7. Enjoy Yourself

Last but not least, do not forget to enjoy your holidays to the fullest! Despite the watchful eating tips, you should keep in mind, do not ever forget how beautiful you are.

Holidays will only be healthier if you are happier from within; after all, inner peace is what matters the most. Dive in to the unique dishes, go for a vacation and taste new flavors but never give in to overeating and unhealthy holidays.

Wrapping it up

Having control over your eating habits does not mean switching into crash diet and turning the off days into weight loss holidays. Instead, avoid overeating during the holidays, keep yourself hydrated, tune into good music and exercise, do not forget to eat healthy and being happy from inside.