Christmasitis, noun: the inflammation, bloat and self sabotage that begins on 1st December and ends just after Australia Day at the end of January!

Christmasitis: as defined by Michele Chevalley Hedge, Nutritionist & Founder of A Healthy View.

Pop, Pop, Pop. You can hear the champagne corks now. And with each pop you feel your willpower shrinking and your waistline bloating.

Yes, it is true from 1 December to the end of January it is not unusual for many Australians to put on one to two kilos or even more.

Six easy health messages will ensure you don’t have a true blow out of your weight or wellness.

Let’s keep it SIMPLE.

S - Sugar.  Glucose, fructose, sucrose, lactose….  Too much sugar of any kind is exactly that, too much sugar, and will lead to excess weight and bloating, not to mention your energy roller coastering up and down.  Be sugar savvy.

Enjoy this: Mint & Lime with Vodka and soda water
Instead of this: Cosmopolitan ( 2.5 tsp sugar)

Enjoy this: Prawn skewer
Instead of this: Sweet Chilli fried prawns (3.5 tsp sugar per tablespoon)

Enjoy this: Roasted spicy almonds
Instead of this: Christmas wreath & jelly Santa ( 3.5 tsp sugar per tablespoon)

Enjoy this: Roasted spicy almonds
Instead of this: Christmas wreath & Jelly Santa ( 2.8 tsp)

Enjoy this: Dark Chocolate Santa
Instead of this: Milk Christmas Coins ( 2 tsp per 4 coins)

Enjoy this: Chocolate-dipped Strawberry
Instead of this: Peppermint Candy Cane small ( 2 tsp)

Enjoy this: Cheese platter
Instead of this: Pavlova (13 tsp / one 125 gram slice)

*all measures are approximate.  Source: www.calorieking.com

I – Increase your breakfast.  Crazy right?  You are watching your weight and a nutritionist is telling you to eat more? Eat a protein packed breakfast that is satiating. Two scrambled eggs with feta cheese and some sweet potatoes is an excellent start.  If your breakfast and lunch is nutritious and satisfying, a light dinner is perfect for those December nights that you are not out celebrating.

M – Move – keep moving and do not let your exercise routine get thrown out due to the hectic pace of the silly season.  Mark your exercise time in your diary in advance, just like you would a business appoint or a doctor’s appointment.  To cement it even further into your daily commitment, exercise with a friend.  Studies show that we are more likely to make the fitness session if we have a buddy we have to answer to.   Not only will you feel better, you will burn excess fat, and exercise brings a rich, nourishing blood flow to the skin for a healthy, merry glow.

P – Protein – by increasing quality proteins in your diet over the holiday season it will ‘crowd out the carbs’ and keep your blood sugar stabilised.  The more balanced your blood sugar is the more jingling you can do around the dance floor.  Chose things like almonds, walnuts, grilled chicken, eggs and grass fed whey protein shakes.

L – Liver – let’s be conscious of the amount of alcohol your liver is processing.  When our livers are clean and not toxic, our metabolism works efficiently.  When our liver is bogged down detoxifying too much sugar and alcohol, you feel bloated and sluggish.  Too much champagne, cocktails, wine and beer add additional calories, hidden sugars, and sulphites, but also send your blood sugar roller coastering the following day.  Often the day after drinking to much, your body craves sugar, salt and fat because your blood sugar was derailed on the previous day. And that craving can be powerful and undermines all your good work.

E – Enjoy -if you overindulge at a cocktail party or have one too many wines, do not beat yourself up.  Enjoy the season and if you slip up, then just get back on track at your next meal – and make it a whole food, protein dense, veggie filled delight.   Self sabotage often begins with being disgusted with yourself from overindulging, then moves to starvation, which then to leads to an eating binge. Not Good. So embrace and enjoy the festive season, and the next day plan for exercise and some nutrient dense, low sugar meals.

Do you suffer from Christmasitis? Tell us how you stay (relatively) healthy during the festive season?

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com