THE average Christmas dinner contains around 7,000 calories – and that’s before you start on the pudding, mince pies and Prosecco.
December 25th’s turkey and trimmings are really just the tip of the iceberg. A Sun poll found one in five of us start boozing at breakfast time on Christmas Day, and with parties starting many weeks before the big day itself, it’s likely many of us will consume thousands of extra calories over the festive period. But I could never have braced myself for the numbers I racked up – or how much weight I gained.
Lynsey didn’t hold back all week with what she ate and drankCredit: Oliver Dixon
Throw in the canapes, turkey sandwiches and delicious gingerbread lattes and it’s all bad news for our waistlines.
“December is such a fun time, full of celebrations, parties and amazing seasonal treats that jump straight into my shopping basket,” admits dietician Emma Shafqat, of Dietitian With A Difference.
“It’s easy to overdo it on the calories. Work places are often full of boxes of chocolates and biscuits which can be hard to resist in the afternoon slumps.
“Our usual routines go out the window, meals are often higher in calories and portion sizes are bigger. Plus there is late-night snacking and xmas drinks, all of which can result in our calorie intake being much higher than normal.”
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 weight I piled on. The results were terrifying:
DAY 1: December 20th
I started off as usual with cereal and then a healthy soup for lunch and a green smoothie. But my good intentions didn’t last long as I soon started tucking into a box of Cadbury’s Heroes I’d bought for the kids, with a can of Coke. It went downhill even further when I went to a Christmas party and ate a rich three-course meal, with lots of booze including wine and three pints of beer.
I got in late and had a slice of toast and some crisps. I’d totalled up 4,000 during the day, double what I’d normally have, and it’s still five days until Christmas.
STEP COUNT: 11,000
TOTAL CALORIES: 4,098
DAY 2: December 21st
Today, I took my three kids, Jacob, 11, Olive, eight and Ivy, five, to see Santa Claus.
There weren’t many lunch options at the venue so I ended up with a hotdog and chips, which amounted to a whopping 950 calories when topped with ketchup and mustard. I also treated myself to a gingerbread biscuit and had an extra coffee and a can of cola whilst out.
I felt stuffed and bloated all afternoon but it didn’t stop me pinching one of the kids’ Dairy Milk Snowmen when I got home.
For dinner, I cooked chicken with chorizo and vegetables – and I was surprised it came in at 900 calories, as I thought it was a reasonably healthy option. I polished off half a bottle of wine afterwards, then finished the day with some advent calendar chocs.
STEP COUNT: 6,000
TOTAL CALORIES: 4,284
DAY 3: December 22nd
Lynsey had been tucking into the Christmas chocolates every dayCredit: Supplied
I wanted a healthier day today, having seen what I’d consumed so far and knowing the worst of the mega calories were yet to come. I went for a 5k run and had chicken and vegetables for lunch and roast chicken for dinner. Despite my best intentions, I still went overboard on Yorkshire puddings.
Later in the evening, I had friends over for drinks and had three glasses of wine. I also put away another 500 calories eating crisps and dips, a delicious chocolate florentine and two Lindt truffles, which contained 75 calories each!
I definitely wouldn’t usually have this many snacks, especially on a Thursday night. We were not even at Christmas Eve yet and I already felt like I’d put on a few pounds. I’d broken out in spots too, probably from the extra alcohol and chocolate.
STEP COUNT: 11,000
TOTAL CALORIES: 3,882
DAY 4: December 23rd
Cheeky tipples and snacks saw Lynsey put on 9lbs of weightCredit: Supplied
Today I had a Crimbo party with family members I wouldn’t see on the big day itself. I bought lots of food for a buffet including meat pizzas, breaded chicken and cheese and biscuits. I scoffed four slices of pizza.
My mum made a homemade quiche, which I scoffed a slice of – and I tried out all three desserts, including a Christmas tree brownie and a snowman smash cheesecake. For drinks, I had two cans of lager and a glass of wine.
When I was clearing up, there were odd bits left on plates which I grazed on, as well as another slice of pizza. I’d also laid out crisps and dips before everyone arrived, and enjoyed plenty myself.
My step count was pretty low as I’d spent most of the day sitting at my desk at work and then I was in the kitchen preparing. After four days of eating junk, I was beginning to look bloated and suffered indigestion. My skin looked dull and spotty.
STEP COUNT: 6,200
TOTAL CALORIES: 4,011
DAY 5: Christmas Eve
Yule log was one of Lynsey’s favourite Christmas dessertsCredit: Oliver Dixon
We went for an early walk along the coast the morning, and while out I had a bacon roll and a big ‘s’mores’ hot chocolate, which was loaded with cream and marshmallows. I then had chicken and salad for lunch but when friends arrived for a drink in the afternoon, we chatted over mulled wine and mince pies, plus lots of nibbles.
The kids wanted to leave out something homemade for Father Christmas so we made brownies, which I had to taste to make sure they were good enough for Santa. Common sense now seems to have gone out the window and I was dipping in and out of the chocolate pot all day.
I’ve always liked to cook a special family meal on Christmas so we had a big lasagne with garlic bread and salad – followed by yule log.
STEP COUNT: 10,400
TOTAL CALORIES: 4,429
DAY 6: Christmas Day
Lynsey enjoying her Christmas dinnerCredit: supplied
I had my usual breakfast early on the big day while the kids were opening presents. We then had pancakes with bacon and maple syrup, as well as Bucks Fizz.
Although I felt full straight after eating, it soon wore off and it was easy to nibble on party foods given we had so much in the house including sausage rolls, Twiglets, crisps and dips. I was shocked to see I’d eaten 2,230 calories before I’d even sat down for my turkey dinner.
We had a Camembert starter, then turkey with all the trimmings. We needed a short break after dinner, then we had Christmas pudding with brandy cream and some chocolate brownie cake.
I felt stuffed afterwards but my total intake on Christmas Day was upped by booze, some chocolates, and later in the evening, cheese and biscuits.
I don’t think of myself as someone with a big appetite. I’m a size 8 and less than 10 stone, but I put away a whopping 6,751 calories on Christmas Day.
Just before bed, around 11pm, I ate another few chocolates, which I regretted as I then suffered heartburn as I was trying to get to sleep.
STEP COUNT: 3,000
TOTAL CALORIES: 6,751
Tips for cutting back at Christmas
Dietician Emma shares some top tips to help you enjoy the season without overdoing it:
Keep treats out of sight, try not to leave bowls of chocolates or sweets on the table. Store them in a cupboard and only take what you need when you want it.
Decide ahead of time which treats you really want to enjoy, and savour them mindfully rather than grazing constantly.
Use smaller plates and bowls to help control portion sizes without feeling deprived.
Try not to skip meals. Focusing on eating balanced meals during the day can prevent extreme hunger that leads to overeating later.
Try to stay hydrated as sometimes thirst is mistaken for hunger, so keep water or unsweetened drinks on hand.
Try to get in some movement e.g. a short walk after a meal can help digestion and curb the urge for extra snacks.
Try to eat slowly and focus on your food, noticing flavours and textures, rather than eating while distracted by TV or socialising.
Try to limit liquid calories as festive drinks can add up quickly try to alternate alcoholic or sugary drinks with water.
Have some healthy snacks accessible like fruit, nuts, or yoghurt available so you can satisfy cravings.
Finally, set realistic expectations. It is okay to indulge a little and being overly strict can backfire. Enjoy treats, but keep balance in mind.
DAY 7: Boxing Day
After staying the night with relatives, I woke to the delicious smell of smoked salmon and eggs – and whilst I didn’t feel hungry in the slightest, I ate it anyway and enjoyed it.
We then had family over for lunch and I made a steak pie with vegetables and was back on the booze again sipping away two glasses of wine.
A family member brought along a pavlova and it felt rude not to eat it.
Lynsey
Then in the afternoon, I had some more party food and nibbles before tucking into a buffet in the evening. Once the family had gone and the kids were asleep I sat down with more wine and had a slice of yule log, which is my favourite.
I also had two gin and tonics. It was another high-calorie day and I’d barely done any exercise to burn it all off.
STEP COUNT: 4,000
TOTAL CALORIES: 5,020
FINAL VERDICT:
It was time for the moment of truth and after stepping on the scales, I was horrified to see I’d gained 9lbs in just one week.
Lynsey before her gluttonous ChristmasCredit: Supplied
Lynsey after feasting for seven days straightCredit: supplied
But when I totted things up, it was no surprise as I’d consumed a staggering 32,475 calories in seven days – that’s 18,475 more than I would consume in a normal week. And I hadn’t stuck to my usual fitness regime.
I felt bloated and lethargic and my skin had broken out in spots.
I made immediate plans to go for a run the next day and made a promise to ease off the festive foods in the run up to 2026. All I can say is, thank God Christmas only happens once a year.
Dining and Cooking