The countdown to the festive season has begun. And you know exactly what Christmas means: big family meals, endless treats… and a few extra pounds. To get ready for the holidays and keep things in check, here are 6 super easy tips to lose weight before Christmas.
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Tip no1: Watch what you eat
Let’s be honest from the start: miracles don’t happen, not even at Christmas! You won’t slim down before Christmas without changing your diet. Weight loss is 70% nutrition, 30% exercise. That said, your pre-festive “mini diet” shouldn’t be too restrictive — otherwise you’ll end up overindulging from 24 December to 1st January!
1- Make the most of seasonal ingredients
Who said winter only had potatoes to offer?
- Bring vegetables into your life: in December, root vegetables take centre stage. Treat yourself to parsnips, Jerusalem artichokes, turnips, celeriac and carrots — perfect for delicious soups. Enjoy cabbages too, braised with mushrooms. And whip up gorgeous winter salads : chicory, pear and walnut, or lamb’s lettuce, fennel and Granny Smith apple.
- Vitamins from fruit: winter doesn’t have to be dull on the fruit front. Don’t hesitate to enjoy citrus fruits, pomegranate, apple, persimmon and kiwi at every opportunity. They’re filling, packed with vitamins (which we really need in winter), and light on the scales. Choose whole fruit over juice. Prepare comforting yet light desserts: orange carpaccio with star anise, apple and kiwi compote with cinnamon…
- Fish: get a head start before the festivities by choosing seafood. Some varieties are particularly delicious at this time of year — and great for your figure! Go for sea bass, grey bream, dab, whiting and mussels, steamed, poached or cooked en papillote. A few fresh herbs, a drizzle of olive oil, and you’re done!
And if you’re truly at a loss for meal ideas, take a look at our Objectif – 5 kg coaching guide: 110 slimming recipes, each one more tempting than the last!
2- Make the right choices
The Advent season is incredibly tempting — advent calendars, chocolates, shortbread biscuits… But all that snacking throughout December can really add up come January. So:
- Eat until you’re satisfied, but keep it balanced. Your plate should be made up of a quarter lean proteins (poultry, eggs, pulses, soy), a quarter complex carbohydrates (whole grains) and half vegetables.
- Eat your meals in a calm setting, slowly, chewing properly. You’ll feel full sooner and naturally eat less. A little trick: put your fork down between each bite — it’s the key to mindful eating.
- Stick to three meals a day. This rhythm keeps your energy steady throughout the day with no need for snacking! And right after eating, brush your teeth: the minty taste of toothpaste and that fresh-mouth feeling will put you off reaching for the chocolate box!
- Avoid all excess. The festive period comes with its fair share of calories. So, before Christmas, steer clear of anything that could cause weight gain: rich sauces, alcohol, sugary treats, fast food, cured meats and cheese.
Tip no2: Get moving
OK, we get it. In December it’s cold, it gets dark early, and the last thing you want is to exercise outdoors. But there’s no getting around it: you won’t lose weight before Christmas if you don’t get active!
- Walk outside: make the most of your lunch break to go for a stroll. Walk to the bakery and take a little detour, just for the pleasure of it. Pull on your hat and head outside, alone or with company (the dog, the kids, your partner). The brisk air and physical activity will leave you feeling lighter!
- Build a home fitness routine: it’s absolutely possible to work out at home. Some exercises are very simple and require no equipment at all. You can do them on the living room rug, with a chair or against a wall. For the more dedicated, you can always try a Fitness Resistance Band for a reshaped silhouette before Christmas!
- Don’t neglect cardio: endurance sports remain the best for weight loss. Running, cycling and rollerblading are ideal activities for slimming down. Winter or summer, it doesn’t matter — just dress accordingly!
Tip no3: Stay zen
December should be a month of joy. Make the most of this time to:
- Ditch the stress: it’s the enemy of a slim figure. Stress triggers a rise in cortisol production, a hormone secreted by the adrenal gland. Cortisol is naturally present in our bodies, but in excess it can lead to weight gain, as it raises blood sugar levels. It also increases cravings for “comfort” foods. So, to avoid these pitfalls and lose weight before the festive season, you need to unwind! Run a bath, read a book, light some candles, meditate… Find your own way to release the tension!
- Sleep: sleep is directly linked to concentration, energy levels, stress… and weight! Poor sleep, too many short nights, and the whole system starts to falter. Your hunger and fullness signals go haywire, you feel constantly hungry and have no energy for anything. Time to put a stop to that! To slim down, commit to a good sleep routine: eat dinner early and lightly, sip our Infusion Detox, go to bed at regular times, sleep at least 7 hours a night in a dark, cool room… Admit it — you already knew all of this!
Tip no4: Take care of yourself
What if you adopted an effective slimming routine before Christmas? Skincare could well help you shed a few centimetres here and there. Our Pack Minceur Express is specially designed to help you slim down in record time! It includes four products and two guides, to give you every tool you need on your slimming journey.
- The Tummy products, such as the Gel Minceur Cryo and the Soin Minceur Nuit, target localised fat on the tummy, hips and love handles. Apply the Cryo Gel in the morning and the Slimming Treatment in the evening for visible results in just 21 days!
- The Thigh products, such as the Gel Cryo Cuisses and the Soin Nuit Cuisses, target fat accumulated on the thighs and buttocks. A clean formula (95% natural ingredients), easy to apply, fast-absorbing, with results in three weeks. What more could you ask for?
Tip no5: Drink more water
It bears repeating: drinking water is the number one slimming habit. First of all, because hunger is often just thirst in disguise. We sometimes mistake a slight pang for a simple need to hydrate. Next time you feel a craving, drink a large glass of water… It wasn’t hunger after all, was it? Water also helps to deeply detoxify the body. So always keep a bottle of water with you, at work and at home, if you want to lose weight before Christmas. Always start your meals with two large glasses of water — you’ll naturally eat less as a result.
And if you want to mix things up, or if plain water isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other options:
- Tea and herbal teas — like our Thé Minceur Brûle-Graisses, delicious and effective!
- Unsweetened coffee — a splash of milk is of course allowed, ideally before 3pm so it doesn’t interfere with your sleep.
- Homemade detox water — infuse your water with lemon, orange, mint, cucumber or ginger, however you like.
- Broths — start each meal with a cup of vegetable broth to cleanse the body, rehydrate and support digestion.
Tip no6: Let plants lend a hand
Since we’ve just mentioned herbal teas, it’s worth knowing that certain plants are particularly effective for weight loss. Before Christmas, try a phyto cure (capsules, ampoules, powder, loose), choosing plants that match your goals.
- Want to drain your body? Cherry stalks, green tea, orthosiphon, nettle, dandelion, meadowsweet and ash are all your allies.
- Want to support digestion and avoid bloating? Artichoke, fennel, green anise, mint and lemon balm will help you feel light and comfortable.
- Want to manage your appetite? Try blonde psyllium, konjac, bladderwrack, nopal and fenugreek, all known for their appetite-suppressing properties.
- Looking for a natural fat burner ? The classics — guarana, pepper, cayenne, yerba maté and garcinia — are your go-to allies. Give them a try.