It’s a question that comes up every year: after indulging during the end-of-year holidays with foie gras, logs and chocolates, how long can it take our body to eliminate all these excesses? Alexandra Murcier, dietician-nutritionist, gives us some answers.
In winter, the body stores more
If the drop in temperatures tends to make us de facto more sedentary, the Christmas period drastically accelerates weight gain. Indeed, family reunions by the fire, repeated aperitifs and rich dinners (starter-main course-cheese-dessert) end up “fattening” the body – which can no longer keep up.
The cold also pushes us to consume higher-calorie foods to keep the body at a good temperature (exit salad, make way for post-Christmas tartiflette).
Finally, letting go due to vacation (“I’m on vacation, so I’m having fun”) definitely takes away from our weight. When we are not at home, we adapt to the habits and recipes of the other (and what does it matter, if they put twice as much butter in their pasta).
“The pounds gained during the holidays are mainly the result of water retention due to a diet higher in salt and sugar.“, specifies Alexandra Murcier.
However, there is no question of feeling guilty here, nor of adopting a post-holiday diet: returning to balance, at home, is usually enough to lose the few pounds gained, assures our dietitian-nutritionist.
Weight gained during the holidays: “Be careful of the yo-yo effect”
While wanting to regain your basic metabolism (and weight) is understandable, be careful not to go too quickly.
“We must avoid wanting to lose weight too quickly, because if we deprive ourselves too much, it ends up lowering our basic metabolism. Result ? We then store more, which explains the greater weight gain after drastic diets and the famous yo-yo effect.“, she warns.
From a behavioral point of view, following diets and detox treatments is also not recommended. “It is also not desirable to deprive yourself because this behavior creates frustration which often triggers much greater breakdowns later.” she says.
Finally, it is better to do without drastic diets to avoid deficiencies, warns the expert.
“Resumption of a healthy and balanced diet to return to your healthy weight slowly but sustainably is therefore the best idea.“, she concludes.