Look, I’m just gonna put it out there
It’s PARTY TIME!
Spring is here, it’s rocketing into BBQ season, AFL Grand Final, Spring Carnivals and there’s only 15 weeks until Christmas – so we’re breathing down the neck of the silly season.
Oh yeah, and U Can 2 is also celebrating its 1st Birthday here at Mercer Street!
But look, here’s the thing you guys – this actually signals the start of the dreaded
Holiday 5kg weight gain.
Sure, this is the time where most people start picking up their motivation to get in shape for summer, but the reality is that this is the start of a slippery slide that goes right through until Easter 2016.
It happens every year, we lose weight during that last 12-20 weeks of the year, head off and enjoy our holidays and then struggle to pull things back together until after Easter. Basically because the weather is wonderful and we’re having a bit too much of a good time.
There is also a lag effect that happens with weight gain. You can do your 12-20 weeks get in shape plan, then eat a bunch of crap for 4 weeks and your body won’t do much.
But don’t get comfortable.
It puts us into a false belief that all is well with our bad habits. But then the weight starts creeping on, and we typically find that it is AFTER Easter where people start to get serious again.
So let’s bear all of this in mind while we look at 5 practical and useful tips to get you through the Party Season safely. Start now, so that when Jan/Feb hits, you’ll still be maintaining a good weight.
Do A Habit Check
What are your habits between now and, let’s say, February? Are you typically a binge drinker every weekend once the sun comes out? It’s all well and good to go on a diet, but we do have habitual associations that can be burned in quite deep, and these associations can be triggered.
Be mindful of associations and habits you have. Try not to just focus on going on a diet. You might have an association of drinking 2 Bottles of wine at BBQ’s and then a further association of eating chips when drinking wine and an association of McDonalds with every hangover. This stuff will kill your diet – so keep an eye on habits and associations.
Be There for the People
Are you socializing with people or are you socializing with food? Further to that, are you really socializing or is it a mask for comfort eating and drinking?
Focus on the people you are with, engage in healthy stimulating conversation in a way that makes you feel good, and you’ll be less likely to focus on food and drink.
If you’re bored and you’re eating and drinking just for the sake of it, consider excusing yourself, spare yourself and the rest of the guests the pain.
80/20 Rule – overused but bloody good!
When we hear things over and over again they become wallpaper. But the 80/20 rule is a great one to listen to.
Let’s break it down – 80% of 5 meals (3 mains and 2 snacks) is 4 meals. So if you were looking after your body properly for 4 meals of the day and exercising, then you can afford to have 1 meal a day that is social. It might be a couple of glasses of wine at 3pm instead of a food snack, or it might be enjoying a BBQ and some drinks for dinner one night.
Of course, if you try to find the loop-holes, like eating 3000 calories during your one meal you’re going to be disappointed. Keep it in perspective.
Bring it in to a 90/10 if you find it practical and enjoyable also.
Move your body
I haven’t said exercise, basically because I don’t want any excuses for you not to move your body. Let’s say you go on holiday, it’s core-melting temperatures and you may not want to do your normal workout. Instead of making an excuse, just do something else and move your body in some way, even if it’s just stretching in an air-conditioned hotel room.
Drink Water
This is another one of those overused tips. But you guys, if you don’t drink it, your body tries harder to retain it! It is possible to gain 3kg of retained fluid.
So much of our fat and weight issues and tight clothes can be down to fluid retention. It’s easy to forget when we’re out socializing!
One thing about fluid retention is that it tricks us into thinking we’re fat and then we run the risk of those other thoughts like “Oh well, what’s the point”.
If you focus on those 5 big tips you’ll be able to get through the silly season with your waistline intact and with a bit of effort, you won’t have to try and lose that 5kg – 10kg again next year!
If you are thinking about getting fit and losing some weight for summer, click here to reserve your spot for a body composition test. I won’t bore you with the science of it, but it’ll tell you everything you need to know to get started.