Dieting and the holidays simply do not mix. With plenty of good food around, it's just so hard to stop oneself from enjoying seasonal treats! But that doesn't mean you should let that nagging voice in your head stop you from enjoying Christmas parties and New Year get-togethers.
Here are three misconceptions surrounding weight gain during the holiday season. Seeing these busted diet myths might be the thing needed to get you out of the yo-yo dieting mentality for good!
You'll Always Be Heavier Come The New Year
Pexels/Andres Ayrton: According to Healthline, bloating isn't something to measure on the scale
Many people expect to ring in the New Year needing to wear a larger dress size after indulging in decadent holiday dishes. But don't fret; experts like the registered dietician and trainer Dana Angelo White says that feeling the waistband on your jeans get tighter doesn't always mean you've gained weight.
It's possible that your body is just bloated or experiencing water retention. Once you return to the average daily diet and activities, that feeling of heaviness will go away, too. Drinking lots of water and snacking on vegetables and fruits will also help hasten that process.
Holiday Dishes Are The Main Culprit
Pexels/Lucas Guizo: Be careful about over-snacking on calorie-dense foods like charcuterie and cheese plates while socializing
If you're suspecting that it's mom's special pie or roast that is the main culprit behind holiday weight gain, you're probably wrong. Research by psychologist John de Castro has found that people tend to eat more when they have company than when they're alone.
To avoid overeating at holiday gatherings, don't stay close to where all the foods and snacks are. Doing so will stop you from mindlessly grazing while catching up with a friend or relative. You can even suggest taking a walk with family after a festive meal instead of sitting around for dessert!
Working Out Means You Can Eat Anything
Pexels/Nathan Cowley: Going by the calories in, calories out principle, you simply can't outrun a bad diet
After letting go during the Christmas season, many people tend to overcompensate with exercise once the holidays are over. If you're a part of this group, then you should probably start evaluating your relationship with food.
Registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner says that thinking of exercise as simply a tool to cancel out overeating is not a healthy mindset to have. At the end of the day, you shouldn't feel like eating good food is something you need to punish yourself for. To combat this, start by viewing physical activity as a beneficial thing beyond just being a tool for weight loss.
