Can you believe Christmas is only 7 days away and with it comes an onslaught of unhealthy rich foods, long sofa bound days, and sugar-filled treats.

All of this can really challenge our self-care. It’s so easy to mindlessly overeat  and  get so caught up in the hustle and bustle that we’ve  no real clue of how much we have eaten, drunk, what tasted good and what didn’t. This, coupled with the fact that we also do little or no exercise, can cause potential weight gain.Did you know the average weight gain over the festive period is 6lbs?!

I’m not going to say don’t eat the roasties, or ditch the Christmas pud- that would be so boring and totally unrealistic . My attitude is moderation and being on point 90% of the time, rather than trying to be perfect all the time as that can just increase cravings.

So to help you stay ahead and avoid piling on the pounds and excess fat  in the coming weeks, I’ve compiled these  easy bulge busting tips to help  keep you healthy and fabulous  over the Christmas period and beyond …

• Always start the day with a healthy, nutritious breakfast  to prevent over eating later in the day( Breakfast like a King ! )
• Keep extra active before and during Christmas to burn off the extra eaten calories e.g. walks with family and friends , bike rides, skip, dance, hula hoop, musical chairs, extra B-Fit sessions etc
• Never go to a party hungry, ideally eat something healthy and nutritious  before you go eg homemade lentil and veg soup  and a green salad.
• Practice mindful, slow eating, take your time and chew your food really well and believe me you’ll eat less
• Avoid highly processed carbs -pastry,breaded canapes,white pasta, battered and fried finger food .Go raw, marinated and/or grilled
• Pause before re-loading your plate.  Do you REALLY want seconds?  And try to use smaller plates.
• Always have a glass water on the table-drink as much water as alcohol, alternate between them. Water helps digestion, hydration and prevents over-eating and  over-drinking.
•  Master the art of making a drink last the evening.If you have multiple social events -offer to drive and stay off the alcohol altogether for some of them. Remember 1 bottle of wine = 9 donuts
• Don’t buy unhealthy food to begin with. Stock your fridge with healthy quick snacks, – humus , celery sticks, olives etc
• Play active family games like Twister, you’ll burn more fat than sitting around munching on Quality Street
• Keep starters healthy e.g. rolled smoked salmon with dill & lemon juice or my signature RYE BREAD CANAPES
• Eat plenty of  turkey, its  protein rich and will keep you fuller for longer
• Fill up on fibrous different coloured vegetables preferably not drenched in unhealthy sauces
• Have fewer roasties and replace with new potatoes
• Opt for my healthy CRANBERRY SAUCE recipe instead of bread sauce
• Choose brandy custard instead of brandy butter- I make my own with Co-Yo coconut yogurt , a splash of brandy and a bit of honey
• Try my healthy CHRISTMAS GRAVY recipe
• Lastly, hint to friends and family that you’d like to improve your health and fitness in 2021 and a B-Fit gift voucher would be perfect instead of perfume, slippers or chocolate! Simply put them in touch with me on 07748 298 728 and I’ll take care of it

The bottom line is there’s lots you can do. It’s only 3 days after all.

For additional Healthy Christmas Survival tips – watch out for PART 2 next week 

Love and Fabulous Festive wishes

Gaynor x