The True Picture Of Christmas Indulgence

christmas

Christmas Day Binge Poole

We all like to treat ourselves at Christmas time, whether by slipping a Quality Street into our mouths, tucking into a hearty roast dinner or enjoying calorie-laden drinks on a boozy night out. However, most of us are not fully aware of how our relaxed approach to eating over the festive period might actually impact on our calorie intake – and our waistlines.

While the recommended calorie allowance is between 2,000 and 2,500 a day, we well and truly exceed this on December 25th. In fact, according to the Independent, we are likely to eat as much as 6,000 calories, thanks to the turkey dinner with all the trimmings, a constant supply of chocolates, an evening of buffet food, sandwiches, cheese platters and nuts and crisps, and copious amounts of alcohol.

According to Wrens Kitchens, which conducted the research, a third of Brits will have had their first alcoholic beverage by 12:00, and many tend to go through a bottle of wine a day during the holidays.

Although 70 per cent of people say they don’t worry about what they eat on Christmas Day, they might think twice about grabbing another slice of Yule log when they realise they would have to run for eight hours in order to burn off all those extra calories.

 

Festive Parties Poole

With so much more being consumed on December 25th, it is not surprising that Brits tend to put on a bit of weight over the season.

However, it isn’t just Christmas Day that we let ourselves pig out on, as the entire festive period sees us enjoying nights outs and parties with family and friends – a dieter’s worst nightmare!

If you think having a sneaky cocktail sausage followed by some crisps is not going to have a big impact, think again.

According to the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF), a seemingly innocent sausage roll has 53 calories, two cheese straws contain 82 calories, a handful of salted peanuts adds 181 calories to your daily intake, and three tablespoons of soured cream dip is worth 123 calories.

Mince pies are immensely popular at this time of the year, but the pastry dessert is typically 253 calories apiece and contains 4g of saturated fat.

It’s not all doom and gloom, as you can still join in the festivities even if you are watching your weight by swapping fat-filled snacks with healthier alternatives.

The BNF recommends two breadsticks at 43 calories, a handful of plain popcorn for 78 calories, and a mini mince pie for 87 calories.

Whether you try and choose healthier snacks or not, you are likely to consume more calories and food with a higher fat content than usual in the weeks leading up to Christmas and through to New Year, particularly when considering the increase in alcohol consumption over this period.

 

Boozy Binges Poole

Indeed, Brits were expected to consume six billion units of booze between December 24th and January 1st last year, working out at 26 units per person per day.

According to a study by Boomerang and published in The Drinks Business, Britons could have drunken 156 units over six days, which is ten more units per day than they would normally have on a night out.

Most of us are guilty of doing this, with just 29 per cent of respondents claiming they do not drink alcohol and 89 per cent of those who do say their reason is simply that ‘it’s Christmas’.

There are many reasons why this is bad for your health, including the fact that alcoholic beverages contain lots of calories, which leads to weight gain. 

Medline Plus reports that craft beer can have up to 350 calories; a Pina Colada cocktail amounts to 526 calories; a small glass of white wine has 128 calories, and a coffee liqueur as much as 160.

– Weight gain Poole

With all this extra food and drink, it is understandable why so many of us feel heavier in the new year. Research conducted by Discount Supplements revealed that all 52 million British adults will put on 20 million stone between Christmas Day and New Year’s, which equates to 5lb each, revealed the Express.

While many of us might assume that detox in January and making New Year’s Resolutions to have a healthier lifestyle in 2020 will see the pounds drop off, this might not be the case.

According to a study from Texas Tech University in , published in the Mail Online, most people struggle to lose 2lb of weight they put on at Christmas.

Those who do find themselves carrying a bit of extra weight after the festive period might want a reliable answer to their problem.

In this case, cryolipolysis , which destroys fat cells in a non-invasive procedure, could be the perfect solution. To find out more, get in touch today .

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