Christmas, Christmas and… good habits, resolutions and a figure! So much work all year round, a well-developed diet, training plans, eye-catching effects, and then a few days – for the lucky ones who take a seasonal vacation, even a dozen! – and in the mirror there is already a new, heavier silhouette. Let’s add that Christmas mass has little to do with muscle mass. How not to gain weight during Christmas?

It would seem that our festive table is bending under dishes whose caloric content and composition are pure remorse. However, from a dietary point of view, we do not have extremely fattening or hard-to-digest dishes at Christmas, but simply abundantly served and numerous.

Even if your home does not compete about who will eat twelve dishes this year, and the dish also includes, for example, horseradish served with fish, there is a good chance that you will overeat. First of all: how to refuse the dishes that we usually eat only at this special time. Second: how to refuse all our family members who have carefully prepared a feast and demand consumption on holidays. Third: how to say “no” to the proverbial “cheesecake”, and in particular to the third in a row.

We will not persuade you to join the Christmas regime. Great sacrifices at Christmas do not make sense, because a) we do not celebrate in order to mortify ourselves, b) tighten our belts during this special time may end up with a double craving later, because our psyche likes to compensate for losses and naturally tends to react to all pressure . In other words: enjoy your food but be smart!

Below are some tricks that will allow you to snack smarter, relieve the digestive system and improve digestion.

  1. Healthy proteins

Our Christmas is very floury. Traditional Christmas Eve is often based on foods rich in carbohydrates and gluten. There is nothing to cheat – if we eat our fill of dumplings, dumplings, all kinds of noodles or challah, and we repeat this operation for a few days in a row, we will certainly cover our needs for carbohydrates, but with a large surplus. This surplus, taking into account the average level of activity during Christmas, is unlikely to recharge our muscles. Look more favorably at the foods rich in protein – they will fill your stomach faster and will satisfy you for longer. Herrings served as a starter in many homes are a great boost of protein, as are all fish that enter the table as a main course. Check if you can tilt your caloric balance a bit in favor of protein this year – there is a chance that you will eat less than usual.

  1. Choose the star of the evening

We know you can’t avoid mixing everything up with everything – that’s what Christmas is all about after all. However, we all have our favorite Christmas flavors. What if you had agreed that this year you are betting on strategy. If you love dumplings with cabbage and mushrooms, and that’s what you are waiting for the most, give them some space. Limit the remaining dishes so that you do not feel an unpleasant burden after the dumpling debauchery.

  1. No rush

Nothing new, but it’s always worth repeating – the smaller you take bites in your mouth, the longer you chew them, the more likely you have to feel the signal of satiety at the right moment and the longer you enjoy each dish. Take your time – you run at an amazing pace all year round. Allow yourself to enjoy the moment, food and company, have a word with those you usually see rarely or in passing.

  1. Stay hydrated and improve digestion

The easiest trick in the world – drink some water. A few sips before a meal and between courses will help you feel full. For those who think it is absurd to drink water on Christmas, tea is a good option. Green, red, or mint, after a meal, will help ease digestion. A master in improving the work of the digestive system is a Christmas classic in the form of prunes compote. Yes, the grandmothers and the aunts were right, it really works.

  1. Skip the training, but go for a walk

Arguing with ourselves that we will do our regular training on Christmas morning is rather crazy. You don’t have to worry about Christmas, really. It is only important that you do not sit completely on the couch during these few days. Especially this year, when the activity of a large part of us, due to remote work, has been limited to a minimum, it is worth leaning out of the house and taking a walk. Choose the time you like the most, or adjust to the weather, get everyone off the radar for a moment, or take a larger team with you, go ahead or plan a nice goal – whatever you decide not to, just get up and go for at least 30 minutes. Moving in the air will help you digest and burn even some of the excess calories.