Holidays are when you enjoy the company of family, friends, and good food. While it’s okay to give yourself a few treat days, if you overindulge in these five foods, you’re likely to gain belly fat and ruin your fitness progress.
Holiday Cookies
Cookies are packed with refined sugars that won’t do your waistline any good. Consuming foods high in these sugars will cause blood sugar spikes, and any excess sugar in the blood goes to the liver, where it’s converted into fats. This fat is later distributed across your body, especially the waistline.
Eggnog
Eggnog is a holiday favorite for many, but like holiday cookies, it contains calorie-rich ingredients such as alcohol, sugar, and vanilla. Even worse, it doesn’t have any fibers to slow down the absorption of sugar.
Sweet Potato Casserole
Carbs are the number one cause of weight gain, and that delicious sweet potato casserole delivers just that. Most recipes contain added sugar, marshmallows, and sweet potatoes.
Christmas Pudding
You should avoid that tempting Christmas pudding if you don’t want to gain a few inches during the holidays. It contains ingredients that have high calories, such as sugar, butter, and wheat flour.
Tamales
Be super careful with tamales because they’re pretty heavy in calories. You can quickly gain belly fat if you consume them regularly over weeks. If you just can’t stay away, remember to monitor those portions.
Please note that it’s okay to consume the foods above. However, do it in moderation so you don’t sabotage your fitness goals. Portion control is key!
