Post-holiday slim-down tips you didn’t know!

Returning home after your fabulous holiday with more clothes than you bargained for, may not be the only extra package you’ll be taking back with you this summer. We can all feel guilty of overeating during the holidays but that’s what summer holidays are for right? Just because your holiday has come to an end, doesn’t mean your healthy lifestyle has to too, so here’s our post-holiday slim-down tips you didn’t know!

Don’t skip breakfast

It may seem like the last thing you want to do when you are recovering from a holiday food coma, but stocking up on your morning fuel is really important in terms of your eating habits throughout the day. Dr Marilyn Glenville, UK’s leading Nutritionist and author of Natural Alternatives to Sugar, says, “If you miss breakfast completely your body immediately registers famine and hangs on tight to your ample stores of fat.” Make breakfast your most important meal of the day and kick start your metabolism enhancing post-holiday weight loss.

Eat more protein

Protein helps to slow down digestion, making us stay fuller for longer and more satisfied without thinking about going back for seconds. “Go for protein,” says Lily Soutter, Nutritionist and weight loss expert, “Protein and healthy fats are great for balancing blood sugar levels.” She also suggests to eat a variety of lean meats, as well as fish, nuts & seeds, tofu, avocado, cold-pressed oils, beans and pulses, natural yoghurt, eggs, nut and seed butters.

Mix up your workout

Whether you spent your holiday exploring different towns or the poolside’s cocktail menu, it’s essential to challenge your body in new ways that are going to promote weight loss. Shona Wilkinson, Nutritionist at SuperfoodUK, highlights the importance of mixing up your workout for post-holiday weight loss, “Try to vary your exercise because your body can become too used to a certain type of exercise and it may not work certain parts of your body. Adding variety means that you won’t get bored as well.”

De-stress with yoga

Got the summer blues? There’s no need to be down in the dumps, especially when stress can increase your levels of cortisol driving your stomach fat. It’s time to de-stress and Lily Soutter has the perfect solution, “Relax, try yoga, a hot bath, massage, read a novel, listen to music or go for a walk to de-stress.”

No to snacking

Picking at lighter bites here and there might seem like the solution to weight loss, however according to new research, grazing throughout the day has been proven unhealthy and counterproductive to weight loss. Lily suggests to, “Stick to three satisfying meals a day, which includes protein, healthy fats, whole grains and vegetables.”

Stock up on eggs and walnuts

Research has shown that leucine, one the essential amino acids found in eggs, can help with weight loss by stabilizing blood sugar levels and encouraging the body to shed fat. Dr Glenville says, “Adding healthful amounts of walnuts to your diet can help you to maintain your ideal weight over time because they boost your metabolism.”  She also says, “The Omega 3 specifically help with fat burning because they direct blood sugar towards the glycogen stores to be burned as fuel instead of being stored as fat.”

Get your fats right

Fat-free can actually mean you eat more, Shona explains, “Fat gives us a feeling satiety (fullness). So instead of cutting out all fat free products, just eat less of the full fat versions. That way, you will feel filled-up and less likely to keep looking for more extra calorie rich food to satisfy you.”

Eat your leafy greens

Shona tell us to “Go green!” She explains, “Leafy greens contain good levels of folate (for building the blood), vitamins B2 and B6 (for supporting energy production), vitamin C for a healthy immune system and skin, and antioxidants such as beta carotene. Greens are also high in fibre, while being very low in calories, so are an excellent choice for supporting weight control.”

Go easy on alcohol

Those innocent cocktails by the pool sure tasted good but to help speed up loss of tummy fat after your holiday, experts suggest cutting back on alcohol is the way forward. Sticking to water or low calorie juices, can help promote weight loss as you’ll be burning more calories than consuming, as well as feeling “lighter and more energized afterwards,” says Shona.

Juice cleanse

Not as scary as you may think! Shona advises to “try a 2 or 3-day juice fast.” She explains, “This involves consuming fresh vegetable-based juices as a replacement for meals and avoiding any solid foods for this time. As well as cutting the calories, juices give the digestive system a rest and may help with digestive problems such as bloating, as well as providing lots of nutrients to support detoxification.” Bottoms up!