It’s hard to believe that Christmas is just two weeks away. And although the festive season is a magical time to celebrate with family and friends, it does come with its challenges when it comes to self care. For instance, you can easily get caught up in all of the frivolity and lose track of what you’ve eaten and drunk — FACT: on average, one bottle of wine is the sugar equivalent of four doughnuts!!! And with this onslaught of unhealthy rich foods, drinking more alcohol than usual, days spent not moving far from the sofa and tonnes of sugar-filled treats, no one would blame you for mindlessly overeating.

So, to help you stay one step ahead of the majority of Brits this holiday season, who will gain 6lbs on average, in this Ultimate B-Fit Christmas Survival Guide, I’m going to share with you my easy and practical bulge busting tips that will keep you healthy and feeling fabulous into the new year — and you can still enjoy your roasties and figgy pud!!! Because let’s face it, no one is perfect and thinking that you can steer completely clear of any temptation (especially if there’s an open bar) is unrealistic. And boring. But I believe that if you aim for being good 90% of the time, you’ll sail through, because you’ll also avoid craving things that are bad for your body like crisps and fried finger foods.

When Out And About

My main suggestion here is to NEVER go to a party or festive gathering on an empty stomach. I know it’s tempting, but if you have a healthy meal inside of you like this delicious coconut lentil soup or a green salad with avocado and quinoa, then you won’t be enticed to nibble on processed carbs like pizzas, breads and canapés, which will only make you feel sluggish and contribute to a bloated tummy.

Keeping mindful of what you’re consuming when you’re out and about at festive gatherings and office parties can be a minefield. But it doesn’t have to be this way. When it comes to drinks, be mindful and learn how to make one drink last a whole evening or simply nominate yourself as the designated driver. Choose lighter options like white wine spritzers, gin and kombucha (instead of tonic) or even non-alcoholic cocktails. Another good tip, which is a favourite of mine and the easiest to implement — arrive fashionably late and leave early, before everyone gets too boozy. It also cuts down on drinking time, which is even better if you’re the one who’s driving!!!

If you are going to eat out, then do some prior research if it’s a restaurant. Most restaurants now have their menus online, which will make it easier for you to keep on top of things and then you can ask if they do swaps like sweet potato fries or a side salad/veg instead of chunky chips. If it’s a buffet situation, then research the table to see what’s on offer before picking up a plate. That way, you can choose the healthy options, add them to your plate, then go and find a seat on the opposite side of the room away from the food and any further temptation.

When At Home

I’m not going to say don’t eat your roasties or ditch the Christmas pud, because that would be boring and totally unrealistic. But there are a lot of things that you can do to compensate for a bit of indulgence on the day. For starters, you should always start the day with a healthy, nutritious breakfast — even on Christmas Day itself. This will help to prevent you from overeating later in the day. FACTS!!!

Next, don’t load your fridge with unhealthy packaged foods from the supermarket. Giant retailers are desperate for you to buy their sugar-laden junk food, but you and your family will feel much better having munched on humous and celery sticks, olives and cherry tomatoes rather than a box of diabetes-inducing Quality Street made with Bovaer milk. 🤮

And when it comes to Christmas dinner itself, eat plenty of turkey (its high protein content will help you feel fuller for longer) and veggies (as long as they’re not drenched in sugary sauces) along with a few roasties, although you could also replace these with healthier new potatoes. You can serve with my healthy B-Fit cranberry sauce and homemade gravy.

You should also aim to stay active during the Christmas break in order to burn off any over indulgences. You can do this by taking leisurely walks with family and friends to the park, seaside or countryside, riding a bike (as long as there’s no snow or harsh winds), skip, sing and dance to your favourite holiday tunes, hula hoop, play musical chairs — or even add in an extra B-Fit session or two!!!

And finally, probably the easiest thing to do to prevent toxic overload is to drink a large glass of chlorophyll water each day, either before you go out (you can also take a travel size bottle in your handbag to add water to throughout the evening instead of drinking alcohol) or at least a half hour before sitting down to your main meal of the day. Chlorophyll is amazing for helping you to flush out unwanted excess toxins from alcohol, sugar and other chemical nasties, which will not only lead you to piling on more fat, but also leave you feeling rubbish.

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I really want you to enjoy this Christmas season to the max and by following the guidelines in this Ultimate B-Fit Christmas Survival Guide, you can do so without feeling like a stuffed turkey at the end of it.

If you need any more help or simply fancy a confidential chat about nutrition, your health, weight loss or fitness, then call/text me on 07748 298 728 or CLICK HERE — not on Christmas Day though, LOL!!!

Love and magical festive sparkles

Gaynor x