How To Beat Holiday Belly Bulge

Most of us spend all year looking forward to gorging ourselves on Thanksgiving food. And while you're elbow deep into the horn of plenty, you're probably not thinking about your waistline. So in the spirit of overindulgence, we've narrowed down the best ways to beat holiday belly bulge so you can snag an extra slice of your aunt's famous pumpkin pie without feeling guilty.

One of the first things you can address is bloating. Contrary to what you may think, your post-meal bloat isn't usually water retention. According to Web MD, it's gas. So, drink plenty of water with dinner and slow your roll. (Literally, slow down eating those rolls.) Eating too fast can cause you to swallow too much air, and thus lead to a gassy tummy.

If you are in fact retaining fluids from the amount of sodium in your stuffing, a natural diuretic will fix that. Starting each morning with warm water and lemon will help you eliminate some of those excess fluids.

Another cause of fluid retention is being sedentary, and what is the Thanksgiving holiday but a long weekend of laying around? According to Livestrong, any fruit with electrolyte mineral potassium will fight fluid bloat -- so citrus fruits and pineapple are good choices.

If you notice you packed on more than water weight during the holiday get to steppin'. We know it's cold, so schedule some walks or runs in the mid-afternoon when temperatures peak -- getting out is good for your body and gives you time away from the family.

If you're more active, try a workout that incorporates high intensity interval training to get the most bang for your buck. Studies show doing intense bursts of exercise followed by quick cool downs is the most effective way to burn fat. Mens Fitness explains it best: "In short, your body isn't able to bring in enough oxygen during periods of hard work. Therefore, you accumulate a 'debt' of oxygen that must be repaid post-workout in order to get back to normal. The result — your metabolism is revved for hours after you leave the gym.' So work out before dinner and keep your metabolism revved up when you tuck into some mashed potatoes.

Here's one weight loss tip everyone can get behind: get a good night sleep. A recent study shows that sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain. "There is no doubt that insufficient sleep promotes hunger and appetite, which can cause excessive food intake resulting in weight gain," USA Today reported in June.

So, rather than fight it, you might want to give in to that tryptophan and sleep it off after that mountain of turkey.

Watch the video above to learn how to beat the holiday belly bulge!

Image Credit: Getty Images