The average person consumes 6,000 calories on Christmas Day, three times the recommended daily amount for women. But last year, when I looked at how much food I had in my fridge and cupboard after doing my big shop on 20 December, I couldn't help but think that would just be the tip of the iceberg.
A recent poll found that one in five of us starts boozing at breakfast time on 25 December (I'm among them) and with parties starting weeks before the big day itself, it's likely many of us will consume thousands of extra calories over the Christmas period.
I decided to keep track of my intake and do a step count for seven days up to and including Boxing Day, to see how much I ate and how much weight I put on. Here's how I got on.
DAY 1: DECEMBER 20
I started off as usual with cereal, then a healthy soup for lunch and a green smoothie. But my good intentions didn’t last long and I was soon tucking into a box of Cadbury Heroes with a can of Coke. It went further downhill when I went to a Christmas party and ate a rich three-course meal, with lots of booze, including three pints of beer. I got in late and had a slice of toast and some crisps. I totalled up I’d had 4,000 calories during the day, double what I’d normally have, and it’s only 20 December.
Step count: 11,000
Total calories: 4,098
I started off as usual with cereal, then a healthy soup for lunch and a green smoothie. But my good intentions didn’t last long and I was soon tucking into a box of Cadbury Heroes with a can of Coke. It went further downhill when I went to a Christmas party and ate a rich three-course meal, with lots of booze, including three pints of beer. I got in late and had a slice of toast and some crisps. I totalled up I’d had 4,000 calories during the day, double what I’d normally have, and it’s only 20 December.
Step count: 11,000
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 18, 2024 من WOMAN - UK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 18, 2024 من WOMAN - UK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
NEVER too late
Catriona had regrets about the past - but perhaps it was time to embrace her future
How many calories are YOU eating at Christmas?
Lynsey Hope tracked what she ate over the festive period, with shocking results.
Cut festive spending
The average Brit expects to spend almost £600 on core Christmas-related products and activities this year, including food, gifts, decorations, socialising and travelling*.
My little MIRACLE
After a horrific blaze, Amanda Stephenson will never forget how lucky she is to still have her son
Why it's not too late to get a flu jab
WOMAN'S GP DR HELEN WALL ON HER TOPIC OF THE WEEK
Stop the season AGEING YOU
Take our youth-boosting quiz to find out how you can keep looking and feeling fabulous.
LOSE AN INCH by Christmas
Stride into shape with our simple walking plan
How to lower your cholesterol
ANNIE DEADMAN IS HERE TO HELP YOU, THE EASY WAY!
Why are we so obsessed with MOVING HOUSE?
With more homes on the market than last year, we investigate the nation's love of selling up
The ROYAL INSIDER
THE REASONS BEHIND THE SUSSEXES' NEW MOVE