Why We Should Drop a Few Kilos Before the Holiday Gauntlet Begins

Winter holidays are a glorious calorie apocalypse: tourtière at midnight mass, Nanaimo bars on repeat, Butter-tart-induced comas, eggnog by the litre, and Boxing Week poutine "because we earned it." By Victoria Day most of us are 5-6 kg up and wondering why our parkas feel like straitjackets.

Here’s why shedding 2-3 kg in the next five weeks is the ultimate Canadian life hack.

1. You’ll actually enjoy the season instead of white-knuckling it

Lose 2-3 kg now and you can demolish the shortbread, the smoked-meat sandwiches, and the caesars guilt-free. That buffer turns December into pure joy, not damage control.

2. Your jeans will still fit on New Year’s Day (and for outdoor shinny)

Nothing worse than layering three hoodies because your favourite flannel won’t button. Two kilos lighter means you stay mobile for pond hockey and winter walks.

3. You’ll feel warmer (yes, really)

Better insulin sensitivity + less inflammation = you won’t feel like a human icicle every time the temperature drops below -15 °C.

4. Skip the January gym chaos

Every GoodLife and YMCA from St. John’s to Victoria will be a zoo on January 2. You’ll be the calm one who’s already ahead.

5. The quiet smugness is peak Canadian

While everyone else is loosening their belt from the first weekend in December, you’ll ring in 2026 lighter and ready to dominate the rest of winter.

How hard is it, really?

From now to Christmas Eve is just over 4 weeks. To drop 2-3 kg you only need 400-700 g a week:

• Walk the dog (or just yourself) an extra 15 minutes - it’s dark anyway
• Swap one Tim’s double-double for medium black or an Americano a few times a week
• Fill half your plate with veg before the mac & cheese or gravy avalanche
• Shovel the driveway mindfully (it counts as HIIT - High Intensity Interval Training)
• Sleep - we’re all short on it once the sun sets at 4:30 pm
• If you're keen, replace two meals a day with a healthy, filling Herbalife meal replacement shake.

Do it now and you’ll eat, drink, skate, and be merry all the way through the holidays - without starting 2026 in sweatpants.

Interested?

Find out about Herbalife Formula 1 Meal Replacement, the original meal replacement shake. (tap the image below).