I’ve noticed something interesting when it comes to holidays and weight gain. People will often come to see me for a weight loss plan when they have booked an exciting holiday, especially one that involves a tropical beach and their togs. There are three distinct phases in their weight journey – the pre-holiday stage, the time when they are away on holiday and the time when they get back.
The pre-holiday phase is the easiest one. People are highly motivated and looking forward to their trip, so they follow the food plan with gusto and see great results. The thought of the holiday dangles in front of them like a carrot, keeping them motivated during challenging times.
Then comes the holiday. A beach escape is very different from a cruise that includes all-you-can-eat food, but the general pattern I see is that people don’t gain weight when they are away. Most of my clients actually lose weight when they are on holiday or are at least able to maintain their weight.
The problem is when they get home – the holiday hangover. That exciting trip is over, it’s back to work, back to routine and, for some people, it’s back to the food and emotional eating because they are feeling down and don’t have anything to look forward to. As we approach the summer festive season, I’m sure lots of holidays are in the pipeline, so here are some easy ways you can plan ahead, to avoid the holiday hangover: • Before you leave, write a quick food plan that you can follow as soon as yo.