Ways to Enjoy Sweets Without Gaining Weight

Recent studies reveal that only about half a kilogram (about 1 lb) is gained after a summer vacation. If we gain the same weight during the same period every year, we may face obesity and many other health issues within the next 10 years. Solving this problem is very easy. With the practical and simple tips I've prepared for you, you can find a way to both enjoy sweets and avoid gaining weight... 

Start Your Day with Breakfast: If you start your day with a protein-rich breakfast, you won't feel the need to overeat at parties you attend during the day on vacation. In a rush? Then have some low-fat yogurt and a little fruit. If you're not pressed for time, you can make yourself a nice omelet with reduced-fat cheese, assorted vegetables, and one whole egg.

Don't Wait Until You're Starving: If you have a light snack an hour before going out in the evening on vacation, you won't let high-calorie foods like chocolate, dry pastries, and nuts cloud your judgment. Fruits can be great examples of light snacks. 

Plan Ahead for Parties: When heading to a party, wear fitted clothes, because when you're conscious of how you look, you'll eat less. You can manage this more easily by staying away from the area around the open buffet.

Watch Your Alcohol: Alcohol is a big problem both for its calorie content and because it causes you to lose your willpower. If you're also following a diet, the situation is even worse. Stay away from sugary, calorie-laden drinks like rum, mint-flavored liqueurs, and chocolate liqueur. Instead, you can opt for light beer, wine, or champagne. 

Snacks: Snacking becomes a big issue during vacation. Everywhere is full of ready-made foods, chocolates, and cookies. All these extra little bites will cause you to consume unnecessary calories. So be mindful of what you snack on during the holidays. Ayran (Turkish salted yogurt drink) with a few mint leaves and ice cubes added to it can be a refreshing alternative.

The One Rule: If you pay attention to your portion sizes, you can enjoy holiday foods. Making an effort to just taste one of all those wonderful sweets, alcoholic drinks, and dishes will even help resolve the situation. For example, one plate of food, one alcoholic drink, one dessert. By making one choice each day from the foods you love, you can avoid gaining weight on vacation.

Turn Your Shopping into an Advantage: Instead of rushing through countless stores, make planned trips. Park your car as far away as possible and avoid using escalators. If you have time, take long walks. Who knows — maybe you'll find the gift you've been looking for for your friend for a long time in one of those shop windows.

Exercise Everywhere: Exercising on vacation is harder than usual. Finding the time can be difficult, but by staying active you can burn more calories and offset the countless meze dishes, cream-rich desserts, sweets, and other holiday indulgences. Exercise helps burn extra calories, and this can often be the solution when you can't resist the social pressure and family nudging to eat more. Walking at a moderate pace for 30 minutes a day will allow for the occasional slip-ups during our vacation.

Learn to Say No: If family members and social circles insist that you eat more, say no to them in a polite but firm way. Remember, the best exercise you can do is to shake your head from side to side when offered food. 

Be Prepared: Always keep healthy snacks on hand that you can consume in emergencies. I recommend dried fruits and nuts for this. Of course, if possible, you can also carry fruits like apples and bananas with you. That way, when you get hungry, instead of ducking into the first bakery you see and consuming calorie-loaded foods, you can eat these snacks and prevent excessive calorie intake. You can also bring fruit with you when traveling to avoid making poor choices.

Let Go of Guilt and Take Action! A big part of your vacation is eating great food. But if you eat more than you need, you'll feel guilty. Don't let yourself spiral out of control like this. Think about standing in front of the mirror in a store, unable to fit into those pants you love so much but find too tight. It's very easy to take in extra calories from a plate of fatty food, but getting rid of those calories afterward takes a long process. No matter what happened the day before, make a fresh start the next day and begin with a healthy breakfast. This will help you readapt to your diet.

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