It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and doesn’t our waistline know it? After being good all year, Christmas comes and our healthy eating habits go out the window – hand over the mince pies!
And whilst it’s all too easy to get caught up in the festive magic, spare a little thought for the New Year you; the one sworn to a million New Year’s resolutions, in the hope a total detox will purge you of your dieting sins.
To make January much more bearable; refrain from overindulging this Christmas. Avoid these 5 hunger triggers, and you’re on the right track.
Stress
Christmas is a time of joy and happiness. However, this is soon forgotten when you’re fighting for TVs in Tesco / queuing for the Christmas turkey.
December sends us into panic mode. We need to buy the perfect present now. To cope with the stress, we find comfort in our old friend, food. High-sugar, high-fat treats provide a warm – albeit temporary – sense of relief that everything’s going to be ok.
Experts at Harvard Health say our sudden need for food during stressful times is caused by the hormone cortisol, which increases our appetite and makes us reach for the chocolate.
To avoid this trigger, take a step back. Christmas is supposed to be an enjoyable time so try not to worry. Plan, budget and don’t set expectations too high. Instead, dedicate your time to having fun with family and friends.
Tiredness
Christmas can sometimes up the workload, resulting in extra long days at the office and sleepy eyes. Rather than feeling super-festive, you’re desperate for an early night. And to make matters worse, tiredness is a common hunger trigger.
Scientists believe that those who sleep less tend to eat more. A study conducted by Andrew Calvinof the Mayo Clinic found that those who were sleep deprived consumed 550 more calories a day. We over compensate for our lack of energy by eating sugary foods. Not only that, when we’re tired we tend to ditch cooking healthy meals in favour of takeaway and junk food.
Beat the need to snack by leaving the office on time and getting your 7-8 hours of sleep. It can impact your diet more than you realise.
Boredom
Eating when bored happens to the best of us, especially at Christmas. You’re surrounded by your favourite foods; cheese, crackers, chocolate biscuits – it would be rude not to.
However, this is where the holiday weight creeps in. December 25th arrives and there’s nothing to do but put your feet up, watch festive films and eat your way through delicious foods.
If you can resist temptation, this is the perfect hunger trigger to try and beat. Ask family and friends to hold back on buying chocolate, avoid large portion sizes and be aware of ‘mindless’ eating. We tend to forget moderation at Christmas, and can pile on the pounds without even noticing.
Winter Blues
Feeling down in the dumps is a good enough reason to reach for Christmas snacks. It’s cold, dark and we can’t wait for summer to come back. However, feeling sad during this season is serious business – don’t let sugary foods be your only source of comfort.
If you’re feeling low, call up an old friend. Time with your nearest and dearest is a guaranteed mood booster – as they say, a problem shared is a problem halved. Alternatively, dig out the gym gear and exercise. This not only helps you maintain a healthy weight over Christmas, but it also releases endorphins (happy hormones) that make you feel great about yourself.
Merriment
During December, our social calendar is packed with office parties and Christmas catch-ups. And not surprisingly, many of us tend to put on a little extra weight. The season dictates that we must have an amazing time – so prepare yourself for mince pies and mulled wine aplenty!
The key with this hunger trigger is to limit yourself. Amidst festivities, it’s hard to say no. As we all know, Christmas can get notoriously boozy. And whilst alcohol carries serious health risks, it’s also secretly calorific. One pint of beer for instance, is 180 calories.
And then there’s the hangover. The only way to wake up from the rotten headache and terrible tiredness is with a big greasy fry up. Christmas parties are the gift that keeps on giving – lots of calories.
Our advice? Take the healthy option once in while. Swap the glass of wine for a pint of water, share the wealth (selection boxes included) and try to make those Christmas treats last longer than Boxing Day.
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