It could take 12 hours of walking to burn off your Christmas dinner

It’s almost a Christmas tradition to overeat. We look forward to filling our plates with festive foods and drinks or snacking on chocolate during the holidays. Even if you are trying to eat healthy, it is difficult to resist the temptation of indulgent foods that are more prominently displayed in shops and supermarkets during the holidays.

The British Dietetic Association estimated that people could consume 6,000 calories on Christmas alone – Christmas dinner being the main culprit. The days, weeks, and months before and after Christmas can be filled with overeating due to social gatherings and work Christmas parties. No wonder that the average adult gains between 0.5-1kg during the Christmas holiday.

Although it may not seem like much, the extra weight gained during the holiday season doesn’t always disappear at the start of the next year. Over time, this excess weight can lead to some people becoming overweight or obese. This may increase the risk for many diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and hypertension.

Research shows giving people information on how long it takes to walk (or run) in order to burn calories from food or drink can help them eat less and avoid weight gain at Christmas. How much walking is required to burn off your Christmas dinner?

Burning Christmas dinner. Amanda Daley is the Author.

It will take an adult who weighs 84kg about 12 hours to walk at a steady pace (around 4 miles per hour) in order to burn the calories from a typical Christmas dinner. It is equivalent to walking about 50 miles. You could also jog for about five or six hours if that is your preference.

The number of calories will depend on the foods you choose, how they are prepared, and if you have seconds. Suppose you eliminate the appetizers and pre-dinner snacks and have only a yulelog for dessert and two glasses of red wine. In that case, your Christmas dinner will only contain around 2,080 calories. This would take an 84kg person only six and a half hours to walk off.

The amount of exercise you need to perform to burn your dinner depends on a number of factors, such as weight, age, and gender.

Walking is an excellent activity that you can do alone or with friends. There are many ways to sneak in more physical activity during the holiday season. While it’s not something that anyone would want to do for 12 straight hours, you can easily sneak in some extra exercise each day. Try walking to the shop instead of driving, if possible, or cycle around the neighborhood to see the Christmas lights with your kids.

It’s impossible to resist the temptation to overindulge at Christmas since it happens only once a year. Snacking wisely and watching your portion sizes are two other ways to consume fewer calories over the holidays. Don’t get discouraged if you gain weight after Christmas. Instead, focus on cutting back on the sweets and setting a goal for the new year to lose weight.