Most of our Christmases centre around indulgence and here at Delta Fitness don’t believe it should be any other way. The question most of us have heading into the New Year is how to lose weight and what is the best way to lose weight after Christmas? This week we discuss how to shed the extra Christmas pounds.
Of course, eating the wrong food will lead to the continuation of you gaining weight but careful diet planning can lead to a fuller more rewarding lifestyle.
Our bodies require 5 key food groups:
- Carbohydrate.
- Protein.
- Dairy products.
- Fruit and vegetables.
- Fats and sugars.
These food groups make up a balanced diet and our bodies need them to function at an optimum. Missing out on any one of the groups can lead to negative effects on the body. Fad diet plans often recommend missing out on different groups and at times restricting yourself to one. This is extremely dangerous and long term is ineffective with most people reverting to old habits once the life cycle of the diet is over.
It is important to create good habits that are maintainable and healthy long term.
Before you begin your ‘New Year, New Me’ lifestyle overhaul it is important to set yourself some goals.
Make them achievable!
Don’t set yourself up for failure. Setting goals such as I need to lose a “6 pounds a week” is just not attainable.
As a general rule losing 1 to 2 pounds a week, you’ll need to burn 500 to 1,000 calories more than you consume each day. Even with a new diet and regular exercise, your “six pounds a week” goal isn’t going to happen.
Initially, your body needs to reach ketosis which is a metabolic state in which fat provides most of the fuel for the body this can take a few days. Consider setting a longer-term goal of 2 stone in the next 4-5 months will lead to a happier, healthier you.
Christmas leftovers can be devastating for your 2020 goals.
Everybody overstocks the fridge and pantry for the festive period. Foods we haven’t stocked all year become a necessity. An endless conveyer belt of treats.
The biggest dangers to your fitness goals are ‘not letting it go to waste’ or ‘if I eat it now I can’t be tempted later’. This can become a never-ending cycle of overindulging.
Start the new year by eating right.
The best way to lose weight after Christmas is to get active!
We don’t mean grabbing the leftovers on boxing day, we are talking about implementing an exercise regime. But before you rush out the door we suggest you find a qualified PT who can help you get back into shape.
If you’re intent on using your own initiative buy yourself a wireless activity tracker and set daily fitness goals. Alternatively, most modern smartphones have a tracking app available. Your goals could be as simple as ‘tomorrow I will walk 10,000 steps’. This may sound like a challenge but 10,000 steps equate to around 5 miles. The average Londoner does half this commuting.
Make changes such as walking to the next floor to speak to your colleague rather than sending that email.
David Conroy, associate professor of kinesiology and human development and family studies at Penn State University studied the ‘unexpected benefits’ of movement on 200 university students. His findings concluded those who replaced online conversations with face to face interactions were significantly more alert, active outside of University/ work and showed improved physical health. Most importantly was the change in attitude towards fitness and the effect on the student’s mental health.
Fitness isn’t just about looking great. Both your mental and physical health are equally important to your wellbeing.
Putting it off till tomorrow is only going to delay the gratification of getting started.
You don’t have to spend two hours in the gym pushing yourself to the limit but making the necessary steps to getting started. Book an appointment with us today and learn how you can begin achieving your 2020 fitness goals.