A fitness guru has dispensed vital guidance for those aiming to lose weight during the holiday season, suggesting it may be time to completely abandon a widespread habit.

As the festive period quickly approaches, many following strict diets or calorie limits might worry about the impact of holiday treats on their health goals. In response, personal trainer Jess Hugo has pinpointed a critical practice to avoid, which can foster a healthier relationship with food during this indulgent time.

Jess Hugo, a personal trainer and sports nutritionist, shared her top advice on TikTok, offering insights she frequently gives her clients on maintaining calorie goals during the Christmas season.

“If you’re in a calorie deficit and feeling anxious because Christmas is just around the corner, here’s what I’d recommend for managing the festive week,” Jess began in her video.

“During Christmas week, when you’re swamped with social gatherings and holiday preparations, avoid opening My Fitness Pal or any similar apps to track your calorie intake,” she advised.

Jess emphasized that even seasoned calorie counters who might have a general sense of their intake should resist the urge to record these numbers in their usual calorie tracking apps.

Jess explained that people have several days before Christmas to maintain their calorie deficit, before treating the festive period itself as a ‘diet break’ to unwind and reset physically, whilst enjoying their ‘freedom’.

You can then resume their calorie deficit when the New Year begins, as Jess emphasised to her audience that exceeding your calorie limit for a few days won’t derail your overall fitness goals or achievements.

“We shouldn’t be living in a calorie deficit, so just remember that when you’re thinking ‘f**k what am I going to do approaching eating at Christmas’,” she reminded her viewers.

She continued: “Also, like your birthday, Christmas literally comes around once a year. It is your opportunity to have a break, have social events, and not actually worry about how much calories is on the food on the table.”

Several followers quickly responded in the comments section, with many expressing gratitude for Jess’s straightforward advice. Nevertheless, some viewers had queries following the video.

“What if you end up eating in a big surplus over Christmas?” one follower questioned in the comments. To this, Jess replied: “It’s fine. Just jump back into the deficit. You might just have ‘more weight’ to lose – which is context dependent as well.”

Another commenter shared: “Trying to tell myself it’s not what I eat between Christmas and New Year but between New Year and Christmas. 5st gone another 3-4 to go next year.

While another viewer expressed: “Thank you so much, I’ve been really in my head about it and this helps!”