The Truth About Holiday Weight Gain. Featuring @SoheeFit #shorts

The holidays are rapidly approaching, and you know what that means.

An absolute onslaught of weight-related holiday chat.

Obviously, the holidays are a common period for weight gain. We are surrounded by more delicious treats, there is often more socialising, or time spent at home. Gyms also tend to be very quiet in December.

Therefore, a lot of personal trainers and fitness coaches are talking about ways to prevent this.

A flip side is some people will talk about why you should eat whatever you want during the holidays. It’s only a brief period of the year, and there is more to life than worrying about how much you weigh, right?

Now, here is the thing.

A lot of advice is person- and context- dependent.

Whilst some people may genuinely want to talk about weight gain prevention tips during the holidays, a lot of people are on the other side of the spectrum and would probably benefit more from not worrying about what they eat at all.

Because to many people, how much they weigh is important. But to other people, it sits far lower on the priority list, below spending quality time with friends, family, and loved ones. After all, life is short and eating, drinking and being merry can be a great source of joy.

So, whatever you choose to do, just keep in mind that life is short, so do whatever makes you happy, even if that looks different to the person next to you.

P.S. my best-selling book, ‘Everything Fat Loss’ is currently on sale as a brand-new audiobook, plus digital/print versions from Barnes and Noble, Apple, Kobo, Google, and Amazon with an extra 32% off in Canada and 10% in the USA. Feel free to grab it before the price goes up.

References:
- The effect of holiday weight gain on body weight
- Weekly, Seasonal, and Festive Period Weight Gain Among Australian Adults
- Effect of the Holiday Season on Weight Gain: A Narrative Review
- Weekly, seasonal and holiday body weight fluctuation patterns among individuals engaged in a European multi-centre behavioural weight loss maintenance intervention

[alexiswinter]

This is how I see it. Overeating one meal in Nov. Grazing a few days and overeating one meal in Dec. Grazing one day in Jan. If by doing this ALL my hard work during the ENTIRE year will be UNDONE, then fuck the hard work. It's too fragile. It's too easily lost to bother with.

[tomjones]

Well, whatever makes you happy, within reason.

[flymypg]

There is an old saying that goes something like: "It's better to do one massive cheat than a bunch of tiny ones." The thinking being that the gut would be overwhelmed by a massive meal, and so be less efficient taking in the calories, compared to spreading the same number of extra calories across a week or so.

I have no idea if there is meaningful evidence either way, but it makes sense to me, and I rely on it for every holiday meal!

[Kycirion]

I find that over Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years parties every year I tend to gain 1-2 pounds of retained water weight. Which sheds off within 2-3 days and I'm back to normal.

[hugomungus]

I think there's an argument to be made about adaptations to seasonal cycles, leading your body to create more fat because of cold seasonal weather. Traditionally, most starvation deaths occur in spring and late winter when food reserves are at their lowest.



I have no idea if that's right or even close, but i don't think a month of butter tarts and turkey makes much of a difference when you consider what most westerners eat. Looking at you, McDonalds.

[pacificblue]

"My hand gestures are more ostentatious!"
"How dare you! Everyone knows that I'm the master of gesture"
"NOT ON YOUR LIFE!"

[paladindanse]

Eat what you want, control your calories or live with the consequences. People need to stop eating like children if they want to achieve their goals.

[NZMuzz]

Great advice!! Like nose piercing for girls signalling other females they swing !!.. just sayin... each to their own.