Are you throwing caution to the wind and just eating, or rather devouring, your way through the holidays? You’re not alone. Not by a long shot. It seems that there are millions with you in not worrying about caloric intake, excessive fats, or serving sizes. A new survey has found that nearly half of Americans are taking an extended break until the new year when it comes to starting or maintaining a healthy diet. That said, only one in eight will make it to the new year without gaining any weight.
Of 2,000 adults surveyed, 45% said they planned on not starting a healthy diet or losing weight until after the new year. Actually, the average American will likely gain six extra pounds over the holiday season. Only 12% will sail through without weight gain.
Real talk — 44% of respondents admitted that they ate more than one dinner on Thanksgiving day, with around 30% indulging so much that they felt sick. A whopping 40% confessed to undoing a button or two on their pants to make room for extra space for their expanding bellies.
Christmas tends to be more of the same.
So, what to do?
Experts suggest eating a few healthy snacks, especially protein-rich foods, throughout the day can help us from devouring everything we see. However, with all those tempting leftovers sitting in the fridge, Americans still overeat at least 13 days between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, with a staggering 8 out of 10 consuming way more sweets than usual!
Even though Americans plan on overeating their way through the holidays, half of the participants in the survey had zero plans to exercise. Not even a little bit. They are going to wait until the new year. What’s more dumbfounding is that of those not doing a darn thing to offset all the extra weight, 54% still think they will successfully stick to their plans to be healthier in the new year!
Not surprisingly, a third of the respondents have already thought of their new year’s resolutions. Bet you can’t guess what’s number one on the list…
- Exercising more (71%),
- Eating healthier (71%),
- Focusing on self-care (55%),
- Saving more money (54%),
- Learning a new skill or hobby (38%).
If you’re one of the millions that feel like they might be drowning in gravy and whipped cream, there are a few things you can do to, at the very least, not fall off into the deep-end of a vat of chocolate syrup.
- Develop a support system of people who know your goals
- Stick to a balanced diet that isn’t overly restrictive
- Eat until you’re satisfied, not full
- Drink lots of water, stay away from alcohol
- Be consistent with exercise
- Park farther away from stores
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator
You don’t HAVE to be in the majority. You can stay on track and start or maintain healthy habits through this holiday season. Don’t wait until the new year to start being and feeling your best.
Here’s to your health! Cheers!
Now, step away from the pie!
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