Blast away your holiday bulge! 8 surefire ways to lose weight fast

Holiday season is over. You return to your day-to-day routine only to fathom the amount of weight you’ve gained. Your pants don’t fit as well as they used to and you wonder how you managed to put on so much weight in so little time. Sound familiar?

Infographic: Beat the bulge

Infographic: Beat the bulge

Don’t despair. Here are 8 surefire ways to reverse holiday weight gain – fast.

Don’t beat yourself up

It’s ok to slip from time to time, you’re only human. Forgive yourself and move forward. Guilt and regret will add very little value now. Instead, channel that energy on losing the weight.

Don’t skip meals

After stuffing yourself over the holidays, you might feel like skipping meals is the best route to take. Oddly enough, you may notice that you now have quite an appetite instead so skipping meals might be more difficult than you think. If you choose to take that route, before you know it, you’ll find yourself stuck in the fast, binge, and repeat rut. Your best bet is to go back to your pre-holiday diet, which hopefully was a balanced one. A good strategy the first few days is ensuring you get sufficient protein for breakfast such as eggs, low fat cheese, and yogurt to keep your appetite under control throughout the day.

Ease your way back to exercise

If raising your fork was the only exercise you were getting during your break, then you need get yourself back on the workout wagon. It’s normal to feel heavy and unmotivated. The key is to start off by getting any form of exercise even if minimal. Exercise not only burns calories, but also puts you in a healthy mindset as a result affecting the food choices you make. Start with a stroll around the block or a 30 min walk on the treadmill. Before you know it you’ll naturally ease back into your exercise routine.

Hold your salt intake

Too much processed food got you feeling bloated? The key is reducing your salt intake to help rid your body of the water it’s retaining. But it’s not enough to hold the salt shaker. Also cut back on high sodium foods like olives, mustard, pickles, chips, soy sauce, stock cubes, and deli meats such as smoked turkey.

Hit the water bottle

The best detox drink happens to be the most available staple in your household. Drink plenty of water, which helps transport waste out of your body. Aim at 2-3 liters of water the first few days after the holidays. You’ll notice it helps keep your cravings at bay too.

Fill up on antioxidants

Antioxidants work to protect our body from damage. If you’re feeling guilty over all the unhealthy food you’ve been consuming, and the health effects they may have on your body, then resort to antioxidants. Great antioxidant rich options include grapes, berries, nuts, spinach, kale, broccoli, sweet potatoes, carrots, and green tea.

Get your omega-3s

According to a review of more than 180 research papers published in the British Journal of Nutrition, it seems fish oils may take the brakes off the detrimental effects of junk food. Although they don’t appear to have a direct impact on weight loss, they appear to have a beneficial effect on the individual’s ability to govern food intake. The research has shown that the omega-3 found in fatty fish such as salmon and fish oil can suppress inflammation and restore the normal functioning of the hormones in our body. Other than fish and fish oil, you can incorporate more omega-3s in your diet by consuming walnuts, flaxseeds, and chia seeds.

Have patience

The number one block to weight loss is wanting too much, too fast. Although instant gratification motivates most of us, slow weight loss results in the best outcomes. When we lose weight fast, we lose water and lean tissue. On the other hand, slower weight loss ensures a higher percentage of sustainable fat loss.