Diet Tips: Stay Trim This Christmas

With the warm weather gone, and Christmas fast approaching, diets and weight loss are now at the back of everyone's minds. But with all the sugary treats and big meals ready to be consumed it's easy to lose track of any healthy regimes you may have worked hard to maintain throughout the year.

What To Consider When Losing Weight

Oxford Online Pharmacy's dedicated GP, Dr Helen Webberley explains the factors you must consider when looking to lose weight:

“Whatever diet regime you choose to follow, effective weight-loss is a simple balance of energy in versus energy out. If you consume more calories than you burn off then they will be stored as fat. Patients often say they can't do any exercise due to work, family, bad knees, stress etc. But ANY physical movement can have a positive impact in terms of burning calories.

“While there can, undoubtedly, be medical reasons for weight gain, on the whole the medical profession doesn’t really attribute weight gain to metabolism, hormone imbalance or big bones alone – it is still dependent on calorie in-take. The simple fact is that if you do have a slow metabolism, or if you are inactive due to health reasons, you need even less 'energy in'. People don’t realise that it takes many years for the weight to creep on which is why losing it can also take time."

Tips For Christmas

While following a healthy diet and exercise plan will deliver the best results, there are some simple day-to-day lifestyle changes you can make which will have a positive impact on your weight-loss.  Here we take a look at some tips you can follow throughout the festive period to keep you on your journey to stay trim: 

1. Be calorie aware

Weight gain isn’t just about calories but being aware of how many calories you are consuming can help you to make a healthier choice – stuck between a cup of tea or a hot chocolate? Compare the calories!

2. Don’t put it in your trolley

Replace unhealthy snacks with a healthier alternative. If it’s not in the cupboard then you and the kids won't be able to eat it. Don't buy it and it won't be there to tempt you.

3. ANY exercise is good 

Walk faster, use the stairs, park further away, raise and lower your arms ten times every hour, it all adds up.

4. Put less on your plate 

Eat when you are hungry and slow down. Listen to your body and stop when you are feeling slightly full. This is especially important at Christmas when people tend to pile their plates higher than usual for the special festive occasion!

5. It's never too big a task

Even if you have a lot of weight to lose, losing just a few pounds can give you the essential motivation to become the new, healthy you. Don't be encouraged to put your weight loss journey on hold for Christmas - instead continue and go into the New Year feeling positive. Remember, if you have more to lose, it comes off quicker too! 

Oxford Online Pharmacy offers a wide range of weight loss services, click here to find out more.