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Follow These Hacks To Avoid Weight Gain While Partying This Season

Don’t party hop at the cost of your health, and weight. Follow these tips to stay healthy yet have fun!

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December month means never ending parties which equals weight gain for most of us. It’s not called the silly season for nothing!

So while you spoil yourself silly, hopping from one party to another at a pace where the line between them becomes a blur, and all other to-do tasks wait on the sidelines – simply forgotten, another thing gets on the back burner too – your health (that gets a beating), and your weight (that goes up steadily).

It’s Christmas and New Years time after all, and parties take priority! Sure we understand. But don’t party hop at the cost of your health, and weight please. Follow these tips for controlled Christmas and New years cheer.

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Stay Hydrated

Don’t party hop at the cost of your health, and weight. Follow these tips to stay healthy yet have fun!
Consciously drink extra glasses of water.
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Lets face it - it is alcohol time – and in plenty too!

So get this straight – alcohol (regardless of whether you have it neat, with water, with fizzy drinks or juice) is very dehydrating.

So as a general rule increase the amount of H2O you down; consciously drink extra glasses of water, sip herbal tea every few hours and munch on some water heavy fruits and veggies (like tomatoes, grapes etc).

Remember to have at least one extra glass of water for each glass of alcohol. And for the months of December -January eat a salad with at least one main meal of the day (to eat some water and detox your body actively).

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Get Quality Rest

Don’t party hop at the cost of your health, and weight. Follow these tips to stay healthy yet have fun!
Make sure you rest your body enough.
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You know you have to play hard and party hard. So make sure you rest your body enough. Nights don’t seem to have enough hours? Then steal a power nap in the afternoon for sure.

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Eat Properly

Don’t party hop at the cost of your health, and weight. Follow these tips to stay healthy yet have fun!
Make sure you have a power breakfast and a very sensible lunch.
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You know dinner is going to go haywire, so make sure you have a power breakfast and a very sensible lunch. You don’t want aches and pains and cramps (which may happen due to nutrient deficiencies, insufficient calories or simply too much junk, or too little food) spoiling the party, do you.

So control the meals that you can control. Go for quality!

For breakfast go for complex carbohydrates (whole wheat chapattis or bread, wheat dalia or oats), pack in protein punch (with milk and milk products, eggs) and take care of fibre, vitamins and minerals with fruit power (any you fancy).

To stay perky through the day keep lunch protein heavy (broiled chicken breast sandwich and a salad make a perfect menu, with a few dry fruits to munch on, so do veggies rolls with yoghurt).

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Indulge Without the Bulge

Don’t party hop at the cost of your health, and weight. Follow these tips to stay healthy yet have fun!
Practice portion control. Yes even at a party!
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But if more the merrier is usually your eating mantra, and the buffet spreads always your downfall, then to avoid that infamous bulge and waistline swell, you need to follow some strict steps for ‘party eating’.

Follow this eating plan to avoid an expanded waistline:

  • Never show up at a party when you're absolutely famished - this virtually guarantees that you'll overeat.
  • Give yourself a head start - have a protein-heavy snack before heading out the door (such as boiled eggs, a handful of almonds, a cup of low-fat yogurt). They'll fill you up and you won't attack the buffet with abandon.
  • Instead of chomping up everything your hosts have set out, select the dishes that you enjoy the most. Decide on a number – say 3 or 4, and only have that many dishes. Skip right over the items that you can get anytime, anywhere. Save your party calories for specialty stuff.
  • Eating should never be a race to finish first – especially when there’s plenty to choose from. Chew slowly and savour the food, enjoying each bite thoroughly.
  • There are no bad foods - just bad portions. So practice portion control. Yes even at a party!
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Move Your Feet

Don’t party hop at the cost of your health, and weight. Follow these tips to stay healthy yet have fun!
Burn extra calories off consciously.
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Face it – you will eat more than you should – these days. So burn extra calories off consciously - take your dog on a long walk each day, forget the elevator and climb the stairs to office, park far away and walk to the mall, play ball with kids in the park every evening.

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Learn to Say 'No'

Don’t party hop at the cost of your health, and weight. Follow these tips to stay healthy yet have fun!
Don’t be afraid to say “no” to an invitation.
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Only go to parties where you know you're going to have fun, and like the people. Don't be afraid to say “no” to an invitation that doesn’t sound like fun, unless of course it's an official obligation.

And if you do get stuck in a party like that, leave after a decent time interval. And while you are there don't stand near the bar or buffet table or you’ll end up mindlessly eating or drinking to fight boredom.

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Dance!

Don’t party hop at the cost of your health, and weight. Follow these tips to stay healthy yet have fun!
Dancing keeps you away from the food.
(Photo: iStockphoto)

Even if you don't love dancing, or think you are the worst dancer of the world, get grooving. It keeps you away from the food, burn a lot of calories and it's hard to drink when you're busting a move.

Remember no one cares how anyone else dances; everyone’s too busy doing their own number on the floor.

(Kavita is a nutritionist, weight management consultant and health writer based in Delhi. She is the author of Don’t Diet! 50 Habits of Thin People (Jaico) and Ultimate Grandmother Hacks: 50 Kickass Traditional Habits for a Fitter You (Rupa).)

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Topics:  Party   Weight gain   Binge Eating 

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