Want to enjoy yourself at the office bash – but still train the next day? Here’s our must-read guide to making Christmas work for you
You know the story – it starts with a few chips and dips at the company Christmas bash and ends up with you sprawled on the sofa, polishing off a box of chocolates while watching the King’s speech on TV.
But surely, as the saying goes, ‘it would be rude not to’. So, what if you could avoid Spartan abstinence and instead find a middle ground, aimed at getting you through the festive period without storing your saddlebags full enough to fuel your workouts until next Easter? Here’s the MF guide to surviving yuletide and maintaining festive fitness:
One for the road
Spicy drinks, such as bloody Mary, won’t stimulate your appetite nearly as much as sweet drinks. Another sound tactic is to alternate each alcoholic drink with a glass of water (your skin, kidneys and abs will thank you for this one).
If there’s really too much peer pressure then try the socially acceptable method of dilution, the spritzer. Also, seasonal protocol is on your side with sherry ranking lower in the calorie count table than wine, beer and spirits.
The gift of festive fitness
Ensure your Christmas wishlist includes some workout hardware. From a muscle cut top to a massage gun and from a techie tracker to training shoes, you might find yourself so inspired you’ll be banging on the gym door on Boxing Day morning.
The calm before the storm
When shopping for groceries, remember you’re not stocking up for another lockdown. The shops will close for merely one day (if at all in some cases) so don’t overstock, buy only what you need and never go food shopping when you’re hungry.
‘Tis the season to be jolly
Steer clear of the fatty dips such as sour cream and taramasalata, opting instead for salsa and tzatziki at only around half the calories. The simplest, yet most effective advice is to avoid temptation, so don’t stand by the buffet table or you’ll end up grazing the evening away.
Damage limitation
Take the skin off the turkey, air fry the roast spuds, steam the vegetables and make custard with skimmed milk to reduce calorie intake whilst still enjoying traditional fayre. When visiting friends and relatives, a little discipline is called for, so fill your plate only once and never return to the buffet table.
Have your cake and eat it
It is only once a year, after all, so treat yourself to a slice of Christmas cake but try it ‘undressed’. An average portion will register up to 400 calories but removing the icing and marzipan can save you around half of this.
Take a hike
A walk of just 15 minutes can halve your urge to devour the chocolates, research from the University of Exeter has found. Taking the whole family out for a stroll in the crisp winter air, therefore, is great for bonding but also for your belly.
The morning after the night before
Amazingly, you might wake up feeling hungry after a pig-out as your body will have secreted insulin into the blood overnight causing blood sugar levels to plummet. Go with it.
Rather than skipping breakfast in a vain attempt to compensate for the previous day’s Romanesque orgy of eating, opt for a light, healthy snack. At all costs, avoid the binge-fast cycle which is an inevitable road to corpulent ruin.
As a regular MF reader you’ll already know that it’s not important how much you eat, drink and exercise between Christmas and New Year…it’s the amount between New Year and Christmas that makes the real difference! This is the key to maintaining festive fitness!
