Is Holiday Weight Gain Temporary?

Gaining a couple of extra pounds after a long Vacation or the holiday season can be a main cause of concern for most people. 

Whether you are on a weight loss journey or just started a new fasting plan, holidays are the time to sit back, relax, and indulge in any foods you choose. 

Big family events, office parties, and Christmas or Thanksgiving dinners are an opportunity to take your guard down and indulge in scrumptious meals and decadent desserts. 

However, with the joys of eating whatever you want and drinking beverages loaded with calories comes the guilt of gaining extra weight. 

Excess holiday weight can lead many people to feel down, defeated, and stressed after festive feasts and celebrations are over.  

But this sudden gain in your weight might be temporary and definitely not something you should be worried or stressed about. 

If your favorite once-a-year treats lead you to panic after you gain a couple of pounds, do not panic. 

Here is all you need to know about Holiday Weight to determine if this weight gain is temporary or not along with easy ways to get back in shape after holiday weight gain.

Is it Normal to Gain Weight During Holidays?

Believe it or not but it is totally normal to gain weight over the holidays since it is quite difficult to relinquish the urge to consume calorie-loaded foods and drinks, especially when you are trying to lose weight. 

Regardless of the common belief, weight gain during holidays can be caused due to factors beyond overindulgence in scrumptious calorie-loaded foods during Christmas parties and Thanksgiving dinners. 

Stress, insomnia, seasonal depression, and changes in the circadian rhythm due to constantly being indoors can be some of the reasons that lead to unhealthy eating habits, changes in metabolism, and eventually weight gain. 

According to research, breaking your fasting or diet schedules occasionally can be more beneficial to your weight loss progress than you may think. 

Most people fail to keep up with their weight loss progress during the holiday season. Intense diet plans, rigorous work sessions,  and low-calorie meal plans to achieve unrealistic expectations can leave them feeling demotivated when they do not see instant results. 

While taking a break from your diet plans and workout schedules can lead you to gain a couple of extra pounds, settling back into your daily weight loss routine can be a great way of shedding excess weight.

How Much Weight can you Gain Over the Holidays?

Wondering how much weight you can gain on average over the holidays can be a common thought for most of us. 

While most people consider that they gain far more weight during holidays than they usually do, according to a survey you gain less than a pound. 

This is because most of the weight you gain over the holidays or vacation is due to water retention in the body which can be caused due to consuming excess salt and carbohydrates. 

According to another study after examining 15 publications that reviewed holiday season weight gain, individuals gain between 0.37 kilograms or 0.8 pounds to 0.9 kilograms or 2 pounds of weight. 

Why Do You Gain Weight Over the Holidays?

Gaining weight over the holidays is a common problem most of us experience, especially when served with irresistible scrumptious foods and delightful beverages. 

But have you wondered why you gain those couple of extra pounds during once-a-year vacations or holidays?

Ideally, the season of feasting during holidays and indulgent treats is to blame for adding a couple of extra pounds on you, however, there are many other reasons that can cause excess weight gain over the holidays. 

To help you figure out why you gain weight over the holidays, here is a list of some plausible factors that add a few pounds to you:

Changes in Circadian Rhythm:

According to the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, shorter or darker days can lead to a shift in the circadian rhythms that regulate basic cyclical bodily functions like eating and sleeping based on the 24-hour internal clock. 

These shifts and changes in the circadian rhythm can lead to metabolic issues and weight gain.

Alcohol consumption:

Holidays and vacations are great getaways for most people who are trying to find an escape from their mundane lives. 

With a great holiday or a comforting warm vacation also comes fun booze, parties, and tipsy beverages to make the best of the moment. 

According to this study, overconsumption of alcohol not only leads to stress and depression but can also add about 100 extra calories to your meal plan causing you to gain weight.

Cold Weather:

Cold weather can lead you to indulge in foods more than usual because just like animals humans also have the innate propensity to pack more body fat before winter. 

Hence, they tend to feel hungrier and indulge in foods that have a higher caloric count. 

Lack of exercise:

According to the survey conducted by Gallup Poll Data, Americans who swear by exercising daily for about 30 minutes tend to drop off their daily routines by December.

This is because shorter days during the winter season can make you feel easily demotivated to go outside, exercise, or hit the gym. 

Energy levels during winter also decrease significantly leading you to sleep more throughout the day.

How to Control Your Weight Over the Holidays?

While resisting from eating scrumptious foods over the holidays can be quite difficult, avoiding gaining weight can be easier than you think. 

If you have gained extra weight over the holiday season and you want to lose those couple extra pounds do not beat yourself up. 

Following the simple tips and tricks mentioned below can help you not only lose excess weight but also prevent you from gaining extra weight over the holidays:

Be patient:

Losing weight is not easy, especially when you are exposed to delicious-smelling foods during the holiday season. 

When losing weight, patience is a virtue, and understanding that losing weight does not happen overnight. 

The holiday season can last up to six or seven weeks giving you plenty of time to overindulge in high-calorie foods. 

Taking your time and patiently practicing healthy eating habits can be the best way of losing those couple extra pounds.

Indulge in Physical Activity: 

Avoiding delicious foods is not the best way of maintaining a healthy weight, especially during the holiday season, hence it is best to indulge in physical activity. 

While watching television, holiday movies, and sitting around with the family in front of a fireplace is the best way to enjoy your holidays, it is best to walk around, move, and indulge in light physical activities throughout the day. 

Weigh yourself:

Weighing yourself is among the best ways of keeping track of your weight gain or weight loss process. However, it is best to avoid overweighing yourself if you have a history of disordered eating.

Stick to the plan:

Losing weight can be a tedious and often ambiguous task, especially when you don’t know where to begin. 

In order to lose weight effectively and efficiently it is best to make up a diet plan and eating schedule. Sticking to your diet plan and schedule allows you to achieve your weight-loss goals.