Friday, December 29, 2017

6 Ways To Get Back On Track After Holiday Overeating

Holidays, festivals, vacations, and even weekend celebrations--They are all meant to unwind, motivate us, and charge up our moods. Along with that comes good food, which is nearly impossible to stop ourselves from indulging in! But relax! It's perfectly okay to pamper yourself occasionally.

Although it is obvious we don't want to make it a practice, knowing that overeating can result in weight gain and makes people feel low in energy, sometimes it happens. Especially around the holidays. What we need to understand is that the actual problem doesn't arise out of overindulging, but because we don't know when to stop and how to get back on track after having a sumptuous meal.

A sobering fact is that the World Health Organization says that nearly 2.8 million people are dying each year as a result of being overweight or obese. 

After a holiday splurge, punishing yourself, or taking a guilt trip never works. Instead, you need to look for smart ways that can help you get back on track quickly.

Here is a list of 6 useful tips:
1. Drink Plenty of Water - The easiest and most effective way to deal with an overeating period is to drink water, but before the meal. Having a glass of water 15 - 20 minutes before hitting the dining table will give you a feeling of fullness. It will reduce the hunger and help you to eat less.

2. Try The 'Okinawa Way' - Of late, the Okinawa diet and style has caught the attention of many scientists and health-conscious individuals. Okinawa is a small island situated at the southern tip of Japan in the Pacific Ocean. People living here have the longest life expectancy of anywhere in the world. The credit goes to their diet and eating habits. One of the rules they follow is to stop eating when they are 80 percent full, and this is achieved by eating the meals slowly. It takes around 20 minutes for the brain to know that your stomach is full. Try doing this the next time you are invited to a lavish dinner. In fact, it will help you not to overeat in the first place.

3. Deal With Desserts Smartly - Desserts are simply hard to resist, especially after you are finished with the main course. Be wise when choosing your desserts. Avoid recipes with refined sugar and lots of fats. Instead, go for desserts that can easily be digested. A bowlful of fresh berries with honey is a good alternative. If you are one of those people, like myself, who is completely obsessed with chocolate, and don't feel satisfied until you have some, aim for desserts made from dark chocolate. Dark chocolate offers loads of health benefits and that alone can offset some of the negative impact that one last indulgence may have.

4. Get Some Air - It's important to stretch a bit after a heavy meal. Even though the last thing you really want to do after a heavy meal is walk, it's a good idea. After a leisurely stroll, you will feel better and you will get a better night's rest. Just 20 minutes is enough.

5. Don't Skip Your Next Meal - You may be tempted to skip meals after a heavy eating session, but that may be counter intuitive. Skipping breakfast the next morning tends to just make you want to binge eat later in the day. If you starve yourself the entire day, you will gorge on anything that you see in front of you on your plate or otherwise!

6. Detox - Getting rid of unhealthy substances and toxins from the body is very important. Detoxity your body the next day. Add some juices and lime water to your routine. Include lots of fresh vegetables and fruits in your meal plans. They are high in fiber and low in calories, so they give a feeling of satiety with less calorie intake.

It's important to celebrate this party time of year, and frankly, any time of celebration is important to enjoy without feeling guilty or abstaining. You can still do it, and get back to your healthy routine, with no permanent ill effects when you stick to these 6 simple guidelines! Have a wonderful 2018! 
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Thanks to Sarah O. Brown for this guest post! She is a working mom, lives with her dentist husband, and her adorable dog, Casper. She is passionate about traveling and cooking and has been a regular contributor for https://www.truecorset.co.uk/blog/

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