Post-Christmas Diets and Advice

After Christmas, we tend to realize that we've gained a few pounds in the least healthy way. Still, don't worry too much; you can solve everything with a healthy diet and exercise routine. Take a look at our post-Christmas diets and tips below.

Last update: 11 February, 2019

The holiday season is the time of the year when you enjoy family, good food, and special moments. Unfortunately, it’s also the weeks of the year when we tend to gain a lot of weight. Have you heard of post-Christmas diets? Indeed, it’s also important to return to your previous routine once the season comes to a close. In this article, we’ll look at post-Christmas diets and tips.

Skip the guilt and learn about post-Christmas diets

Once Christmas is over, you get back into your routine. Or, at least that’s what you try to do until you realize your pants don’t quite fit anymore! Of course, it turns out you’ve put on a few pounds in just a few weeks. For most people, the same scenario plays out year after year. And that’s when it’s time to go back to your normal life with light meals and exercise.

Post-Christmas diets

Our first piece of advice is don’t feel guilty. Gaining weight during holidays is almost a fact of life. This is because there are excess amounts of food, alcohol, and inactivity. Rather, think about the time you enjoyed with your family, the moments you shared and the memories you created. And take time to think about how you enjoyed the holiday season.

With a healthy diet and regular exercise, you’ll be sure to get back to your ideal weight. Keep in mind that we’re usually talking about 5 pounds, so losing that weight should be easy. Also, you’ll be more active when you resume your normal routine, so your metabolism will process the food more quickly.

In any case, your diet should be varied. Below, we’ll explain what changes you should make to get back to your healthy weight.

1. Eat fruits and vegetables again

During the holidays, we tend to ignore fruits and veggies and trade them in for not-so-healthy foods. Pies, cakes, and typical Christmas sweets take center stage on the table. On the other hand, people tend to push fruits aside despite their health benefits.

Woman smiling with fruits and vegetables

Then, the same happens with vegetables. Indeed, we tend to eat more meat, fish, and seafood. We see vegetables as an everyday product and so, we end up ignoring it.

So, the trick to post-Christmas diets is to bring fruits and veggies back into the spotlight. What’s more, keep in mind that you should eat them five times a day. Salads are perfect to cleanse your body and are an easy, light, and very versatile dish.

In regards to fruits, January offers a wide variety of seasonal choices. Some include tangerines, oranges, pineapple, and grapes.

2. Trade in the sauces for grilling

The meals we eat during Christmas are much more elaborate. As a result, they’re also higher in calories and we eat larger portions than normal. It’s common to make sauces with a creamy base like béchamel or other similar recipes, which really pile on the calories. Also, you have to take into account all of the bread that you eat.

Fish salad on plate

An important part of post-Christmas diets is preparing fish and meat in a lighter way. Your best option is to cook on a grill and to season food with aromatic herbs. If you find that boring and bland, you can cook healthy side dishes. For example, you can make sauteed peppers, grilled vegetables, or homemade tomato sauce.

3. Purify your body by drinking water and tea

Yet another change we make during the holidays is our water intake. What’s more, we also tend to drink more alcohol and sugary drinks. Sometimes, drinking more alcohol is unavoidable since they’re a normal part of that season. Further, we tend to drink more sugary drinks because of family meetings or meals with friends.

Once it’s January, it’s time to return to your routine. Also, you have to detoxify your body and nothing is better for that than water. Remember to drink about two liters per day. If you find it difficult to reach this amount you can add tea or natural juices.

Gaining weight during holidays is inevitable. In conclusion, we hope our tips on following a post-Christmas diet will help you get back to your previous weight. It should be a very simple process that only takes a few weeks. In the meantime, look back at the fond memories you created with your family.


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


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This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.