Pre-Christmas Weight Loss Goals

I was wandering through the mall this past weekend and saw it – the first of the season – a large Christmas display. It doesn’t even feel like summer was here and already stores are packing away their warm weather wares to make room for Christmas decorations and advent calendars. Where does the time go?

Although setting pre-Christmas weight loss goals is something Saint Nick would never do, it is a good way for the rest of us to limit or avoid weight gain during the holidays.

Christmas is one of those times of year that can be daunting for dieters. Looking ahead to upcoming Christmas dinners and abundance of treats can be scary. However, one way to combat Christmas weight gain is to have a healthy diet and exercise routine established before Christmas rolls around. This way, even if you do decide to indulge in some Christmas treats or eat a couple of meals that leave you undoing the top button of your pants, you can get right back to dieting before too much weight is regained. This is something that has worked for me and one of the main reasons I believe setting pre-Christmas weight loss goals is important.

Setting Pre-Christmas Weight Loss Goals

With Christmas looming on the horizon, many people think that this would be a terrible time of year to start a diet. However, starting a diet now and setting pre-Christmas weight loss goals is one of the best things you can do  if you want to keep the extra weight off during Christmas.

The most effective way to lose weight for most of us is just by following a healthy, calorie-controlled diet and combining it with regular exercise. By changing your eating habits and getting more active, most people will find that they can lose weight at a consistent rate of two pounds or more each week. Although this may not seem like much, if you start your diet now you could potentially lose 20 pounds or more before Christmas even rolls around, and who wouldn’t want that?

If you want to get through this Christmas season thinner than you are now, start implementing your pre-Christmas weight loss goals now. Once you have made a habit of a healthier lifestyle, it is easier to keep to that lifestyle even when the holidays arrive. And when they do finally arrive, be sure to stick to your plan. You can occasionally indulge in a favorite treat, but make sure to watch portion size. Don’t skip meals, as that puts the body into fat-saving mode, making it harder to lose weight. Proteins and healthy fruits and vegetables tend to be more filling, reducing the feelings of hunger.

One good diet habit you can establish now and try to keep going through the holidays is to avoid white starches, such as pastas, white flour and potatoes, and look for whole grains instead. As well, steer clear of fatty foods and try to limit your salt intake.

Make sure your pre-Christmas weight loss goals are manageable, and take them one step at a time. If you try to do too much all at once, you are more likely to get discouraged and revert back to old habits. But if you can see that you are making progress (losing a few pounds before one holiday, losing a few more pounds by the next), you are able to move forward with your weight loss plans. In some cases, it may help to enlist in a weight loss program. In other cases, it simply helps to have some sort of motivation that you can look at to remind you of why you are trying to lose weight in the first place. Set reasonable goals and act on them, and you are more likely to achieve those goals.

Other Related Posts and Articles you May Find Interesting: “10 Best Weight Loss Tips for Thanksgiving”, “Are Weight Loss Resolutions Doomed?”, “Seasonal Weight Gain” and “The Best Time to Start a Diet”.