Avoid entering weight loss hell! Beware of the 6 Chinese New Year weight gain traps

Be careful not to gain weight during the Chinese New Year! According to survey data from the National Health Administration, more than 30% of the public will gain weight during the Chinese New Year, with an average weight gain of 1.7 kilograms, leaving many people busy fighting body fat and weight after the New Year! If you don’t want to enter weight-loss hell after the Chinese New Year, the Tung Foundation recommends that you first understand the 6 major traps of gaining weight during the Chinese New Year!

According to survey data from the National Health Administration, more than 30% of the public will gain weight during the Chinese New Year, with an average weight gain of 1.7 kilograms.

The New Year holiday is coming and many people can’t wait to relax, but during the New Year period, they often eat a lot of meat and fish plus all kinds of snacks. It is hard not to gain weight after eating for 9 days in a row! The Tung Foundation has listed the six major weight gain traps during the Chinese New Year, reminding the public to avoid them in order to prevent the tragedy of gaining weight during the Chinese New Year.

Trap 1: The snack cabinet is full

During the Chinese New Year, every household is accustomed to buying and stockpiling a large amount of snacks and drinks at one time. Many people are at home with nothing to do and just eat a pack of snacks when they see them, inadvertently taking in extra calories. In fact, there are many hypermarkets and convenience stores with long business hours, so it is very convenient to buy things at any time. By stocking up less snacks and drinks, you can reduce the chances of being tempted by junk food.

Trap 2: Staying up late and not getting enough sleep leads to eating more

During the holidays, many people tend to reverse their day and night schedules and stay up late, but the Tung Foundation cited a 2011 U.S. study that found that people who go to bed late consume 248 calories more per day than those who go to bed at normal times; in their daily diet, they eat an average of 2.2 more fast food meals and 3.2 more servings of sugary soda per week, and eat 1.5 servings less of fruits and vegetables, which can easily lead to obesity over a long period of time.

Xu Huiyu, director of the Food Nutrition Center of the Tung Foundation, said that sleep cannot be stored or prepaid, and people who sleep too little will have a decrease in leptin in their bodies, which will not stimulate the brain to remind them to stop eating, and will also increase ghrelin, thereby stimulating appetite and making them particularly want to eat high-calorie foods.

Trap 3: Eating while watching TV

When I was lazing on the sofa during the New Year holiday, concentrating on the video and audio images on TV, it was not easy for my brain to produce the message of fullness. I unconsciously stuffed food into my stomach one mouthful after another, and only when I came to my senses did I realize that I had eaten too much. A 2013 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that a French study in 2004 showed that people would consume 272 more calories while watching TV while eating, and a U.S. study in 2006 showed that people would consume an average of 255.5 more calories while eating while watching TV than when listening to music. Nutritionist Xu Huiyu recommends that if you want to eat something while watching TV, you can use a small plate or bowl and take a certain amount in advance to avoid overeating and gaining weight.

Food shows and blogs feature all kinds of delicious dishes, which often make people hungrier the more they watch.

Trap 4: Food shows and blogs

Food shows and blogs feature all kinds of delicious dishes, which often make people hungrier the more they watch, and they can’t help but want to get some food to fill their mouths. A 2012 U.S. study found that two groups of people were asked to watch a food show and an ecological show respectively, and then provided with unlimited cheese bars, chocolate candies and carrots. The results showed that those who watched the food show would eat 42.66 calories more chocolate candies.

Trap 5: Not Hungry, Just Craving

When you feel hungry, you can drink a glass of water first, or do something else to divert your attention, such as going out for a walk or chatting with family and friends. After a while, the craving may naturally disappear.

Trap 6: It’s OK to indulge yourself!

It is always hard to refuse delicious food. Some people may comfort themselves by saying "Take a day off today and have a big meal. Then, control yourself or do some exercise tomorrow to burn it off!" The Tung Foundation reminds us that most people often succumb to laziness and keep putting off remedial measures until the end of the holiday, or they simply give up and think, "I ate so much yesterday, so I'll just continue eating today." As a result, they eat more and more. Moreover, after days of binge eating, they have to exercise and diet several times more to burn off the calories. They may also hurt themselves due to excessive weight loss, which is not worth the effort!