Personal trainer Rachel Dillon knows all too well that Christmas is a time for celebrating, but you needn’t pile on the pounds during your well-earned break.
The 26-year-old from Queensland said if you do just five things, you can enjoy the festive period and the food that comes with it while staying slim.
Speaking to FEMAIL, Rachel said it’s all about making a plan in advance if you want to stay lean.
‘Over the holidays, your social calendar will likely be bursting at the seams,’ she told Daily Mail Australia. So what do you need to do?
Personal trainer Rachel Dillon (pictured) knows all too well that Christmas is a time for celebrating, but you needn’t pile on the pounds during your well-earned break
The first thing that Rachel (pictured) said you should do is sit down with your diary and take a look at how you plan to spend the Christmas period – plan for when you intend to blow out
1. Choose wisely
The first thing that Rachel said you should do is sit down with your diary and take a look at how you plan to spend the Christmas period.
‘By all means, spend as much possible time with friends and loved ones,’ she said.
‘However, you don’t necessarily have to indulge at every event.’
Rachel recommends you pick out a ‘few events’ where you intend to let your hair down – and at other times be prepared to make more balanced choices.
‘I like to choose the times that I will indulge in advance, so that I can plan around it to maintain balance,’ Rachel said.
For example, this year she knows she will be spending Christmas lunch with her family – and so will therefore want to eat as much as possible – but then she knows she will have a healthy breakfast and get her training out of the way in the morning.
Rachel (pictured) said you need to embrace portion control at Christmas, and think about when you’re full and if you really need a second helping or are feeling greedy
2. Embrace portion control
Rachel’s second tip is all about portion control – as it’s all too easy to go overboard at Christmas.
‘Definitely enjoy your favourite foods on Christmas Day, but pre and post Christmas, try to be aware of portion sizes and regular hunger cues,’ she said.
While the PT said this doesn’t mean you have to leave the table hungry or feel as though you are ‘munching on kale’ when everyone else is eating roast potatoes, what this does mean is saying no to the next course if you’re full and leaving some food on your plate if you’re done.
Rachel also said it’s worthwhile filling your plate with as many colourful fruit and vegetables as possible, while keeping a quarter of your plate for protein and a quarter for good quality carbs.
Rachel (pictured) also recommends sharing a dessert with a friend instead of ordering your own, or training first thing in the morning so you don’t get waylaid later
3. Share a dessert
Dessert is always tempting at Christmas. But you don’t necessarily have to have a whole one.
Why not go halves with your friend, family member or partner and save on calories?
‘Sharing a dessert with a friend or loved one isn’t only a great way to halve the calories, but it also helps you to enjoy the joy with someone else,’ Rachel said.
4. Train first thing in the morning
With busy social schedules, it’s easy for training to fall by the wayside at this time of year.
But Rachel said the best thing to do is get in your training session in the morning, as this means whatever happens in the evening, at least you have squashed one in.
‘The morning is the time you are most likely to get your workout in without distractions and it still allows for you to be social the rest of the day,’ Rachel said.
Even if it’s just a 15 or 20 minute blast, a few minutes to get your heart racing is better than no workout.
Lastly, the 26-year-old PT (pictured) said light activity – whether incidental or planned – will always help your body – she walks whenever she can
5. Stay active
Lastly, the 26-year-old PT said light activity – whether incidental or planned – will always help your body.
‘Staying active each day isn’t only great for our bodies, but it also helps our mindset tenfold,’ she said.
Get off the bus a stop early before work and walk the short distance to your office, or get outside during a break and walk around the block.
Even light activity and a little bit of walking will help to keep you in shape over Christmas.