The party season is here and although this is a wonderful time of year, it can take its toll on your health and your waistline. The combination of overindulgence, late nights and less exercise can leave us feeling sluggish, bloated and out of shape. None of us wants to start the new year feeling run down and unable to fit into our jeans, so this week I am going to advise you how to sail through the party season without the unwanted consequences come January.
Avoid December Weight Gain
Firstly, designate yourself a couple of the most special occasions such as Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, when you will simply enjoy yourself and have whatever you want. By limiting yourself to a couple of days, instead of going overboard for the entire period, there is a limit to how much weight you’ll gain. Parties and dinners are frequent in December, so it’s important to make healthier choices at the rest, to avoid that dreaded ‘January moment’ when none of your clothes fit.
On the day of a party, you might be tempted to restrict yourself during the day, so that you can ‘go for it’ when you get there and feel less guilty. This however, is exactly the opposite of what you should do and will usually result in you consuming more calories overall in the end. Instead, have a filling breakfast such as poached eggs on rye toast or porridge with fruit and nuts, and a balanced lunch including slow-releasing carbs like quinoa or oatcakes, protein such as fish, chicken or lentils and some veg or salad. Finally, have a small snack such as an apple or 10 almonds just before you go out. All of this will balance your appetite and your blood sugar levels, meaning you feel in control and are much less likely to overeat or grab the wrong things from the buffet.
If you want to ‘compensate’ for eating slightly more than usual, it is in fact far better to do so the next day. You should naturally feel like eating less anyway due to the body’s inbuilt energy-balance mechanisms, so it will be much easier. You can find my “Day After Plan” for when you have over-indulged and are feeling full and bloated here. This will get you back on track quickly and feeling back to normal the following day.
What to Eat & Not Eat
And to Drink?
Many of us drink more in December, so it is especially important to be mindful of the safe upper limits of 2-3 units per day for women and 3-4 for men. With alcohol, once again, I would allow yourself a couple of key occasions to let your hair down and then stick to the following advice for the rest of the time.
- Don’t start drinking until you start eating eat —if you are obliged to have a glass of bubbly straight away, just sip it very slowly. Being tipsy on an empty stomach is your willpower’s worst enemy!
- Alternate alcoholic drinks with a glass of water
- Avoid cocktails, which are packed with sugar and high in calories
- Stick to wine or bubbly, avoid spirits and never mix your drinks
- Ensure you have at least two alcohol free days per week
The Morning After
The symptoms of a hangover are mainly down to dehydration, because alcohol is a potent diuretic, making you lose water (by going to the loo more!). Rehydration is therefore essential to your recovery! Start your day with a cleansing hot water with lemon, then drink plenty of water throughout the day; coconut water is also an excellent re-hydrator. If your energy is flagging, sip on a Beauty & Go Vitality for an instant pick-me-up.
Don’t be tempted by that greasy fry up, it is not the answer and will make you feel even more sluggish. Instead stick to healthy carbs and protein and eat little and often to rebalance your blood sugar, which alcohol disrupts. Scrambled eggs with spinach and mushrooms or healthy buckwheat pancakes make great ‘morning after’ breakfasts. For more ideas, click here. You can also try a Beauty & Go Detox drink, which supports natural detoxification processes, and will help your liver to flush out the alcohol.
Stay Active
Most people are less active during December compared to the rest of the year. Busy schedules mean that workouts fall to the wayside, cold weather makes outdoor activities less appealing and we tend to use the car, tube or bus more and walk less due to the same. If you can stay active the benefits include more energy, better sleep, reduced stress levels and you will be less likely to gain weight. Here are some tips:
- Move your evening workout to the morning or lunchtime if your evenings are packed.
- If you work out the rest of the year, fit in at least one workout per week to keep your fitness levels from dropping off too much.
- If you can’t make it to the gym, find other ways to build activity into your day. Walking is the easiest and you can fit in short 15-minute bursts when you have time.
- Use a pedometer or fitband to measure your steps. You are aiming for 10 thousand per day, which can burn an extra 400-500 calories.
- Long walks with friends and family are lovely over the Christmas period. You can offset a few of the average 7000 calories reportedly consumed on the big day!
Your Skin
Late nights, alcohol and a less healthy diet combined with the cold weather and central heating can take their toll on our skin at this time of year. Here are some tips for keeping your skin glowing throughout December and beyond:
- Staying hydrated will help keep your skin from drying out, so drink up. You need 1.5-2 litres of fluids per day plus an extra glass for every alcoholic drink you have. Herbal and fruit teas count and are perfect in the cold weather. You can also make a hot version of ‘spa water’ such as hot water with slices of lemon and orange or my current favourite; hot water with apple slices and cinnamon sticks.
- Moisturise your skin from within by including essential fats from foods like salmon, avocadoes, nuts and seeds every day. A daily Beauty & Go will provide collagen and hyaluronic acid, which both help to keep skin supple and elastic from the inside out.
- Don’t forget your fruit and vegetables! At this time of year, canapés and other party foods can mean we miss out on our daily servings. However, you actually need the antioxidants even more to protect against damage from late nights, alcohol etc. Make an extra effort to include at least 5-7 servings and add an antioxidant boost with a Beauty & Go drink, which contains powerful MacroAntioxidants®.
- Eat chocolate! A recent study found that cocoa helped improve skin condition and elasticity and reduced skin roughness and wrinkles in Korean women. Unfortunately the sugar in most chocolate bars will have the opposite effect, so stick to raw chocolate or cocoa.
- If you wake up with tired, dull-looking skin, a Beauty & Go Vitality drink can instantly wake up both you and your skin. Beauty & Go Vitality contains energising ingredients such as guarana, ginseng, green tea and coenzyme Q10 to give you and your skin a much needed energy boost the morning after.
