Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Examples of non-religious Easter traditions include Easter eggs, and related games such as egg rolling and egg decorating. According to History.ca, “the English word "Easter" comes from Eostre, or Eostrae, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility.” For more on this holiday, check out History.ca’s full Easter article HERE.
In accordance with other non-religious traditions, Easter is associated with chocolate bunnies, chocolate eggs, and well, just lots and lots of chocolate. Additionally, there are usually large family dinners for Easter that typically involve an abundance of not-so-healthy food. So, Easter can be a very challenging holiday for those trying to lose weight.
With that said, here are our best weight loss tips to consider this Easter:
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Do Not Skip Meals:
Make sure you eat a healthy breakfast, a light lunch, and an afternoon snack. Your dinner may not be served until late, and if you sit down to dinner starving, you may overeat once the food hits the table.
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Do Not Overeat:
Listen to your body and the signals it’s giving you. One way to give your body time to communicate it’s fullness level with you is to put your cutlery down between bites. This will slow down your eating and give your body time to adjust to the food you are consuming.
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Plan Health Meals Or Alternatives:
Make sure there are healthy substitutes for or healthy versions of your favourite dishes. There are a lot of healthy holiday dishes you can offer that many others would enjoy as well.
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Portion Control:
If you find it difficult to measure food while at a dinner party, try to have half of your plate covered in vegetables, a quarter in protein, and a quarter in starches. Use very small amounts of gravy, sauces, stuffing, rolls, and have only one small serving of your favourite dessert.
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Stay Active:
Now that spring has sprung, get outside and get in some additional exercise before you sit down at your holiday dinner. Taking a walk before or after dinner will help you make room for or work off some of the calories you consume. Here are some more benefits of walking to help inspire you to take a family stroll.
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Focus On The Meaning Of The Holiday:
Food is apart of the holiday, not the focal point. Nowadays, everyone has busy schedules making it difficult to connect with family and friends. Enjoy the moments you get to spend with each other and focus on catching up instead of the food that surrounds you.
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Drink Responsibly:
Drinking too much can impact your inhibitions to say “no” to tasty holiday snacks, meals or sweets. We recommend having tea or coffee as a post-meal drink rather than sticking to your alcohol of choice. If you’re on a Herbal Magic Weight Loss Program, you can still consume alcohol, but be sure to check out your allotments, and try to stick to them.
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Stick To Your Goal:
When tempted by sugary foods or drinks, remember your goal. Simply ask yourself if eating this will help you achieve your goals, or not. If the answer is no, stick with items that fit in your program so you can continue to successfully lose weight.
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Avoid The “All Or Nothing” Approach:
You do not want to leave the table feeling overly stuffed. Eat only until you’re satisfied. You can have a few bites of your favourite holiday dish/treat without eating it all in one sitting.
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Forgive Yourself:
If you end up eating more than you intended to at a holiday meal, give yourself a break and get right back on track at your next meal. Weight loss journeys happen one step at a time; so if you miss step, just keep walking – you’ll get there!
Another one of our best weight loss tips for Easter include moving the focus away from chocolate by changing up the way you exchange gifts or have Easter egg hunts. If you have children, hide non-food items instead of chocolates. Not only will this help keep chocolates out of your house, but it also decreases temptations. The magic of Easter can be about fun and games with family, and chocolate doesn’t need to take the spotlight. If you do purchase chocolates do not buy more than you need. If desired, enjoy 1 piece of dark chocolate per day (at least 70% cocoa, 75-150 calories). If you’re on a Herbal Magic Weight Loss program, that 1 piece of dark chocolate counts as 1 Free Exchange.
It might also be worth teaching those around you how to lighten up traditional holiday meals, and show them how these new healthy meals can become the new traditional dishes!
For more weight loss tips, check out these articles:
