As more and more gatherings centre around high-calorie foods and drinks, weight loss can become a real struggle during the festive season.
Fortunately, weight loss expert Maggie Hennigan, MS, RDN, has shared some key methods focused on helping those whose lifestyles involve regularly eating out and travelling.
The five hacks, described in a TikTok clip titled “fat loss for socialites”, mean Britons won’t have to avoid restaurants and nights out. It includes daily activity strategies to smart alcohol choices, and advanced meal planning.
Many dieters struggle to stay on track with their goals during the festive season
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Maggie’s first recommendation involves boosting what she calls non-exercise activity thermogenesis – essentially all the movement you do throughout the day that isn’t formal exercise.
To achieve this, she encouraged clients to set ambitious step targets to stay active consistently.
“That means that you can burn an additional two, three or four hundred calories in a day without getting sweaty, without having to carve out time to go to the gym, nice and easy,” she explained.
What’s more, walking has the rare advantage of being one of the few activities that won’t make you hungrier.
Her second tip is designed to tackle pre-event eating. Rather than starving yourself before a night out, she suggests loading up on protein throughout the day to keep you fuller for longer, while giving your metabolism a boost.
The third tip addresses restaurant dining strategies, as many people order the lowest-calorie option on the menu just to end up picking at everyone else’s food. To avoid this, Maggie recommended selecting meals that genuinely satisfy you.
“My recommendation is to choose a topping that is going to be the most satisfying for you, even if it is a little higher in calories,” she advised, noting that this will prevent late-night snacking.
For alcohol choices, she suggests prioritising drinks with higher alcohol content and fewer calories.
Rather than consuming multiple low-alcohol beverages at around 100 calories each with five per cent ABV, a stronger option can achieve the same effect with fewer total calories consumed throughout the evening.
The day after a big night out also requires careful consideration, so Maggie’s final piece of advice centres on preparing for it. This is particularly important for those who tend to reach for unhealthy foods when hungover or after drinking, she notes.
“Tip five is to master the hangover meal, because if you are someone who is prone to hangover eating or drunk eating,” Maggie noted, stressing the importance of having meals ready beforehand.
Maggie’s strategies are designed for those with a busy lifestyle
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Planning these meals in advance ensures they’re nutritionally balanced rather than impulsive choices made while feeling rough, and prevents one night out from completely derailing weight loss progress.
When adequate preparation is implemented, it’s entirely possible to maintain an active social life whilst working towards fitness goals, Maggie noted.