9 Tips and Tricks to Avoid Gaining Extra Weight During the Holidays: Enjoy Yourself, but Take a Few Precautions to Keep Your Weight and Fitness on Track!

Oxyburn understands athletes well and knows that even an extra kilogram or two can be bothersome or take a psychological toll. All that hard work undoubtedly justifies a higher caloric intake than that of sedentary people; however, the change in diet that occurs in December and during the holidays can lead to weight gain that isn’t always welcome. Work dinners, family lunches, and get-togethers with friends fill up the calendar at this time of year, to the point where they become almost a daily occurrence.

We’ll give you some tips on avoiding foods that can most disrupt your workouts and your well-being, and we’ve also got a special recipe for a Christmas dessert so you don’t have to give up the pleasure of dessert.

1. WINE AND PROTEIN APERITIF: For happy hour, opt for wine and pair it with the healthy fats found in olives and the protein in cheese, mini omelets, or cold cuts;
2. STAY AWAY FROM THE BREAD BASKET: Try to avoid all the treats you might find in the bread basket—focaccia, breadsticks, and rolls made from various types of dough. The sugars and calories in bread add unnecessary weight without contributing to a feeling of fullness or satisfaction from the meal;
3. CHOOSE APPETIZERS AND MAIN COURSES— they’re the ideal way to enjoy delicious dishes, finish your dinner feeling light, and avoid going to bed with excess calories from carbohydrates. Also, if you drink alcohol, it’s best to avoid additional sugars;
4. IF YOU PREFER, REPLACE THE APPETIZER WITH A SOUP— pumpkin soup or other creamy soups are truly delicious, they warm up the evening, and with the addition of a few crunchy elements, they become a true gourmet dish;
5. GO FOR THE SIDE DISH— have two side dishes if that helps you skip the first course. Vegetable-based side dishes are always an excellent choice to fill you up and enrich your meal with valuable nutrients necessary for maintaining your well-being and, above all, your physical fitness;
6. EAT SLOWLY, enjoy the company of your dining companions, chat, and relax. You’ll savor your food more fully and feel satisfied without overeating;
7. DON’T OVERDO IT WITH DIGESTIVES; if possible, avoid bitter liqueurs and grappa. Instead, pair your dessert with a glass of passito wine.
8. CHOOSE THE RIGHT DESSERTS: If you’re not crazy about pandoro and panettone, opt for flourless desserts instead. Try spoon desserts or fruit-based desserts, and if you just can’t resist the traditional Christmas desserts, don’t overdo the portions.
9. I LOVE YOU, DRIED FRUIT: Another excellent alternative to traditional desserts is dried fruit—a food that’s incredibly valuable, especially for athletes, and truly delicious!

Finally, here’s our recipe for a truly amazing treat, perfectly balanced in terms of fat, protein, and sugar.

BAKED STUFFED APPLES

6 Golden Delicious apples
6 tablespoons of ricotta
a handful of raisins
a handful of pine nuts or chopped almonds
nutmeg
cinnamon
a splash of vin santo
sugar

Soak the raisins in hot water; cut the tops off the apples as if they were hats, remove the cores and a little of the flesh, which should be set aside and mashed in a bowl. Add the ricotta, raisins, pine nuts or almonds, spices, and a little sugar to the apple puree, and mix everything together. Fill the apples with the mixture, replace the tops, and place them in a buttered baking dish. Drizzle with vin santo and sprinkle with sugar. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes at 200 °C.

Keep up the training, and happy holidays!