During the holidays, the succession of family meals, sweet snacks at the office or festive aperitifs with friends causes cold sweats in candidates for slimming and has cause for concern for all those who care about their health. Indeed, according to an American study, a single “big” festive meal can be enough on its own to multiply by 4 the risks of suffering a heart attack.
To limit damage, there are several tips. For example, the previous week, we do not go on a diet: continue to eat normally to avoid overeating during receptions. But possibly modify the composition of your meals by reducing sugar intake and forcing on proteins (satisfying!) for maintenance and muscle building. Also bet on fiber to facilitate digestion. Vegetables are rich.
How to prepare your body before Christmas Eve meals?
It is important to do some exercise before meals, such as a short walk or a yoga session, to increase metabolism and burn calories. The calories consumed during the New Year’s Eve meal will be used for muscle building and recovery, rather than being stored. A weight training session or if you’re not used to it, 45 minutes of brisk walking are ways to manage heavy food intake.
It can be helpful to eat a healthy and light snack before Christmas Eve, such as a salad or soup, to avoid arriving hungry and eating too quickly. This can help with portion control and avoiding overeating.
Drink plenty of water before meals, as water helps hydrate the body and prevent fluid retention. It is also important to pay attention to what you drink during meals and to limit alcoholic beverages, which can be high in calories.
Our expert: Véronique Liesse, nutritionist dietitian, author of My bible for losing weight without dieting (Editions Leduc)