The average person starts putting on weight in October, and the kilograms you gain between Halloween and Christmas can take 5 months to lose, according to research by Cornell University. That means it’s already been two months of weight gain you probably didn’t even realize was happening. And chances are you’ll snack on some more Advent calendar / after dinner / Christmas cracker chocolates this week – and keep munching all the way to New Year’s Day.
Related: 5 Festive Season Food Hacks To Stop You Eating Til You Feel Bloated And Guilty
Traditionally this time of year is when you give yourself excuses,” says Men’s Health Fitness Director BJ Gaddour. “You say, ‘I’ll gain a little bit now, and when the new year comes around, I can lose it.’” But then you will need to work even harder to lose even more weight in a few months. You need a plan to curb holiday overeating now. That’s where Gaddour comes in.
Related: The 6 Real Reasons You Overeat
Here are his three cardinal rules for maintaining healthy eating and fitness habits and avoid gaining weight during the holidays:
