Keeping Your Weight Loss on Track During the Holidays

The holiday season can be an especially difficult time of year for bariatric patients. Bariatric surgery is most successful when paired with comprehensive lifestyle adjustments, including sticking to a healthy diet and maintaining a regular fitness routine. Between holiday meals, festive celebrations, and a busy schedule, eating right and staying active can be challenging during the winter months. Fortunately, there are several weight loss tips you can adopt to help you continue to make progress toward your goals during the holidays.  

Get Creative with Your Fitness Plans 

If performing your typical exercise routine isn’t feasible during the busy holiday season, get creative with your workout plans. Incorporate exercise into your everyday activities by skipping the elevator for the stairs, dancing to your favorite holiday music, giving your house a deep-clean, and picking a distant parking spot to increase your walking distance as you shop. You can also try participating in holiday-themed marathons or fitness events, and making plans with family members to exercise together.  

Plan Ahead 

Before you go to any holiday gathering where you know there will be food, take some time to think about how you can honor your healthy eating habits beforehand. Instead of arriving hungry and increasing your chances of overeating, eat a small amount of protein before you leave the house. Once you arrive, remember to stick to your regular portion sizes and don’t go back for seconds. Politely decline any offer to take home leftovers so you’re not tempted to fill up on holiday treats later. 

Try Out Healthy Recipes 

It’s natural to want to enjoy some holiday-inspired dishes once the holiday season arrives. A great way to satisfy these cravings is to find recipes for healthy versions of these dishes online that you can make yourself. This lets you control what ingredients you use so you can have a festive meal that meets all your dietary guidelines. There are plenty of substitutions available, such as fat-free dairy products and sugar-free sweeteners.  

Attend a Support Group 

If you’re struggling to stay motivated on your weight-loss journey during the holidays, it can be helpful to connect with others who understand what you’re going through. Try attending a local bariatric support group. You can even get advice on attending holiday gatherings and bariatric-friendly recipes from fellow support group members.  

Stay Mindful 

To prevent overeating, try to follow mindful eating and listen to what your body is telling you. Only eat if you are hungry and focus on the actual process of eating so you can enjoy the food on your plate. Avoid socializing near food tables or the kitchen so you’re not tempted to eat more just because the food is near you. Instead, focus on talking to guests and connecting with loved ones.  

Continue Follow-Up Care 

The holiday season isn’t an excuse to skip follow-up appointments with your bariatric team or avoid working towards your health goals. The team at Wellstar Bariatrics is here to help you year-round, and can offer personalized guidance on staying on track with holiday weight loss. Whether you need exercise advice or nutritional guidelines on weight loss during the holidays, we can help. Contact us today to learn more.