12 Christmas Weight Loss Tips

Our Top 12 Christmas Weight Loss Tips

Looking for some top Christmas weight loss tips? Christmas is the season of family, happiness, good TV, and eating LOTS of food. This is the time of year when any weight loss diet becomes... what weight loss diet!?

The average Brit eats an extra 3000 calories on Christmas Day and can gain up to 4 lbs during the festive season...

...and often we are still desperately struggling to shed those pounds all the way through until Easter!

From Christmas dinner to work parties to family get-togethers, food is unfortunately the centerpiece of all celebrations. But it doesn’t have to be like that!

The Slimming Clinic has put together our favorite weight loss tips for December if you feel like you want to stay on track with your health and weight loss this month!

Read our daily 12 weight loss diet tips for making December one to remember!

Day 1

To all mince pie lovers, reduce the calorie content of your favorite festive food by simply removing the pastry topping! Pastry is pretty fattening, so cutting it out where you can will help trim down your overall daily consumption. Or if you’re a culinary connoisseur and you make your own mince pies, opt for filo pastry instead.

One puff pastry sheet has 620 calories, whereas two sheets of phyllo pastry are 80 calories—a sure-easy winner!

Day 2

Before pouring your Christmas tipple, first add 5 cubes of ice.

This way the drink won’t be as strong, one glass will seem larger, and ice-cold water can aid hydration.

Day 3

When you’re offered finger food and dips, always ensure you go for a tomato-based dip like salsa rather than a cheesy/sour cream dip.

At 110 calories and 11.3 g of fat for 2 tablespoons of sour cream versus 20 calories and only a trace of fat for the same amount of salsa, there’s no comparison!

Day 4

Mix your mulled wine with 50% orange juice; this way you can enjoy the traditional warming Christmas drink with added vitamin C, a higher fruity flavor, and only 111 calories for 175 ml.

Day 5

Don’t let this time of year put you off your diet or give you an excuse to pig out on rubbish.

You can still join in the festive fun with healthy seasonal snacks such as satsumas, which are high in vitamin C, and roasted chestnuts, which are low in fat.

Learn how to deal with your cravings with our top tips!

Curb Your Cravings Blog

Day 6

Allow yourself a glass of bubbly. Just because you’re being careful, don’t miss out on the celebratory drink. As the glass is smaller, you’ll be drinking less than opting for a cocktail, and the bubbles will fill you up quicker, meaning you won’t want to drink as much.

At 100 calories per glass, just ensure that you have planned for it in your daily calorie allowance.

Day 7

You’re at a Christmas party; a buffet is laid out in front of you, but you don’t want to ruin all of your hard work OR look like a party pooper. Follow these brilliant buffet rules to keep on track:

If you don’t really love it, don’t eat it.

Put two small spoonfuls on your plate at a time, leave your food to digest for 20 minutes, then go back to the buffet again if you want more and are still hungry!

Try only new foods and skip the same old options that you can cook at home.

Day 8

Christmas time is about friends, family, and spreading happiness.

So focus on the company that you are in, the spirit of the season, and try to put the importance of food at the bottom of your priority list.

Day 9

Take the bull by the horns and throw your own Christmas party—this way you’ll be in charge of what goes onto the table.

Swap breaded chicken bites for marinated chicken bites, keep dips to tomato-based, and offer cocktail shrimp, smoked salmon, salads or vegetable platters, and nuts and fruit for dessert.

Healthy food can be exciting.

Day 10

If you are at a party and can’t/don’t want to completely avoid alcohol, a Cosmopolitan is a great cocktail option.

With a lower calorie content than other drinks plus a high number of antioxidants from the cranberry and lime juice, the Cosmopolitan is a better option of alcoholic beverage.

Day 11

Don’t be tempted to pick and constantly eat leftovers—this is what a freezer, friends, and family are for!

Send loved ones away from Christmas Day with 'care packages' of food and freeze what you don’t eat for late in the year!

Day 12

Buy a gorgeous outfit for your New Year’s Eve celebration, even if it is at home this year!

Try it on each week to keep it at the forefront of your mind and visualize how you want to feel when you wear it when the clock strikes midnight.