Festivals and weddings are the perfect occasions to gorge on lip-smacking delicacies. It is quite normal to indulge in the delicious food served. However, this causes excess or higher-than-normal calorie consumption, increasing the chances of weight gain. Experts point out that it is important for everyone to get back to healthier ways after such events, focusing on weight loss and flushing out the toxins accumulated due to overeating. Adopting certain easy-to-implement measures can be crucial in this regard.
Losing weight after festivals and weddings
According to experts, one must take the following steps to reset the body after festivals and weddings:
♦ Be physically active
Incorporating any form of physical activity into the daily schedule can be a great start toward healthy living. “During weddings, which are elaborate events with many days of exuberant eating and drinking, it is important to ensure some form of physical activity. This will help burn some of the calories consumed. And after the festival or wedding, one can increase the duration of the workout to shed the excess fat,” advises Samreen Sharif, nutritionist and research assistant at St John’s Research Institute, Bangalore. Being physically active will also reduce cravings, improve blood circulation and aid digestion.
♦ Exercise portion control
Practicing moderation in all meals is one way to compensate for overeating during festivals and weddings. “One should ensure that the excess calories consumed during the festive season are balanced out. It can be done by avoiding added sugars, processed foods and high-calorie foods [as well as] cutting down on carbs for two to three weeks,” says Sharif.
♦ Have a well-balanced diet
A well-balanced diet is a must after feasting on calorie-rich foods at weddings and festivals. Since the days leading up to and during the festivities are loaded with sugary and deep-fried dishes, it is important to flush all the toxins from the body. “A balanced diet high in fiber and antioxidants can be helpful in triggering weight loss after festivals. It should also include vegetables, dals and healthy carbs,” says Diksha Dayal, senior dietitian, SHALBY Sanar International Hospitals, Gurugram.
Opt for simple, homemade foods and avoid restrictive diets (eating patterns that involve significantly restricting or eliminating certain foods or sets of foods).
♦ Hydrate
It is important to stay hydrated, as it directly influences the hunger cycle. “Ensure you are not dehydrated at any point in time. The moment we are dehydrated, the mind starts to wonder, and it gives wrong signals that we are hungry; hence, we reach out for anything that is available,” says Debjani Gupta, a certified diabetic educator and nutritionist from Mumbai.
Adding to this, Dayal shares, “Dehydration can shoot up cravings, especially sugar cravings. As a result, we end up eating what we are craving rather than having some water.”
♦ Reduce alcohol consumption
Alcoholic drinks are high in calories and can become a hindrance while one is trying to lose weight. “The servings of alcohol should be reduced. Also, pair the drink with healthier snacks instead of something that is deep-fried so that the excess calories [ingested] while drinking are also taken care of,” notes Sharif.
♦ Ensure adequate sleep
According to experts, one of the most underrated aspects of a healthy routine is proper sleep. It is important to sleep for a minimum of seven to eight hours a day, as a lack thereof directly impacts weight gain and leads to other health conditions. So, avoid staying awake late at night.
♦ Detoxify
Detoxification is the best way to cleanse your body of the junk that you’ve eaten. “Fasting is a fantastic thing to do after festivities. It will help the body get rest from the digestion process that it has been carrying out all this time. One can go for water fast as well,” suggests Gupta.
Other ways for detoxifying the body and improving digestion include drinking herbal tea, jeera, ajwain or warm ginger water, as they activate the digestive enzymes.
♦ Stay positive
A positive mindset plays an important role in working towards a healthy lifestyle. “Having a positive thought process towards how we formulate our diet and wholesome eating [by incorporating macronutrients] helps one maintain or lose weight after festivals,” says Gupta. “Once you have formed the mindset that I am not going to go beyond one Gulab Jamun, it really works. So, if somebody is keen on building a healthy body with that mindset, all they need is a little nudge.”
