Weight Loss During the Holidays

It’s that time of year again. Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and then we will move straight into December with all of its celebrations. It is completely normal to throw any diet or weight loss plan out the window from now through the end of the year. In this blog post I hope to give you some reasons to stick with whatever weight loss plan you are on throughout the holidays (and why it might even be a good idea to start one right now!).

First things first, you should always embark on a weight loss journey when YOU feel that it is the right time for YOU. I am not here to convince you that you should start during the holidays, new years or in the spring. If you are ready to truly make a change and take an active role in losing weight, and getting healthy, for good, I am going to give you some reasons why there is an advantage to doing so during the holiday season.

First, it’s not all that difficult to lose weight in November and December. People think that it is this daunting task that will be completely overwhelming and won’t allow for any fun or celebrations. I can tell you (from personal experience) that this is just not true. Sure, losing weight is going to require some sacrifice. There is simply no magic pill, shot, class or machine that “fixes” weight issues (no matter what you have heard). What you can do to make the process easier is select a plan that truly fits you. Our Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky weight loss clients are often surprised with how little they actually have to “give up”. Finding a program that fits your life and lifestyle is key.

Second, losing weight during the holidays teaches you skills about healthy living during less-than-ideal times. Learning these skills are absolutely necessary if the goal is to lose weight, get to a healthy weight and then maintain that weight long term. There will always be something coming up that makes weight management a bit tricky (a wedding, a vacation, birthday party, etc.). If you learn how to lose weight during the holidays you will be prepared for any of these situations.

Finally, losing weight during the holidays (when everyone else around you is actually gaining weight) can be wholly empowering. Being able to do something that no one else is willing to do comes with a sense of pride and accomplishment. This leads to and increased feeling of power and control over one’s own situation. Anyone can lose a little weight starting January 1st. Almost all of these people fizzle out in there weight loss journey within a few weeks. If you truly dedicate yourself during the holidays, have a solid plan that you agree with and isn’t too disruptive to your life, and lean into the process, you will prove to yourself that you can do it. As a bonus you will be far ahead of those “New Years Resolution” folks.

Start when you are ready. Never start because you feel pressured by others as this only leads to failure and a feeling of disappointment. If you are ready, however, the holiday season has several advantages to long term weight loss.