Calorific calamity
NOW the festivities have come to a close, bloated revellers will be jumping on the scales to see just how many pounds all those mince pies and glasses of champagne really amounted to.
Many people drink to excess and binge eat over the Christmas and New Year period, in return promising themselves detox, gym membership and a tee-total January.
But do we cause ourselves long-term damage from the excesses of December or do we deserve to treat ourselves if we follow a healthy diet the rest of the year?
The Chronicle & Echo asked three readers of varying ages to record everything they ate and drank from Christmas Day until New Year, to highlight how many calories and alcohol units people consume in seven days.
The UK Department of Health's Estimated Average Requirements (EAR) are a daily calorie intake of 1,940 calories per day for women and 2,550 for men. The recommended amount of alcohol units in a week is 14 for women and 21 for men.
Registered dietician, Cirian-Marie Beddoes, who runs Fat Chance, a personal trainer company in East Hunsbury, Northampton, said one-off binge eating and drinking did more psychological damage than physical.
She said: "There is no long-term damage nutritionally. A week of over-eating might raise your blood pressure or cholesterol if you measure it straight afterwards, but your body will recover.
"Drinking 100 units in a week is an awful lot and alcohol is a toxin so it can do considerable damage, but the liver is amazing and it will clear that amount of alcohol out as long as the intake does not continue. The body is an amazing piece of equipment.
"But the greatest damage is psychological and it makes it more difficult to get back on track. The problem is with people who do yo-yo dieting as Christmas. It's a time when traditional dieters have a "who cares" attitude and it can end up lasting for many weeks.
"Really Christmas should be two days of enjoying it and then getting back to a normal diet."
n To be in with the chance of winning a personal trainer and dietician for a year, send your contact details to info@fatchanceuk.com and you will receive an entry questionnaire. For more information call 07748 144462.
SANDRA GREEN
Sandra, 53, from Moulton, consumed more than 14,000 calories but managed to maintain her weight during the festive week.
Day 1 (December 25)
9am: Tea, bacon, scrambled egg, toast
10am: Glass of water
11am: Cup of coffee
11.45am: Bucks fizz
2pm: Turkey, rib of beef and trimmings, Christmas pudding, brandy butter and cream, two glasses of rose wine, brandy, coffee
4pm: Glass of water
4.15pm: Cup of tea and glass of water, a few nuts and a satsuma
7pm: Turkey, ham and salmon sandwiches, salad, two mince pies, two cups of tea and a few chocolates
8.30pm: Two gin and tonics and coffee
Calories: 3,594
Alcohol units: 8.4
Day 2 (Boxing Day)
9.30am: Two cups of tea, yoghurt and banana, glass of water
11am: Cup of coffee
Noon: Cup of coffee
1pm: Two glasses of wine, ploughman's lunch
4pm: Cup of tea, slice of Christmas cake, satsuma, a few nuts
7pm: Cold turkey, pork pie and salad, trifle, two cups of tea
10.30pm: Brandy and coffee, three chocolates
Midnight: Two glasses of water
Calories: 2,358
Alcohol units: 4.3
Day 3
8am: Toast and tea
10am&11am: Cup of coffee
12.30pm: Salmon and cucumber sandwich, yoghurt and banana
3pm: Cup of tea
4pm: Glass of water
6pm: Chicken and leek pie, potatoes, cabbage and Brussels sprouts, one glass of wine
7.30pm: Cup of tea
9.30pm: Coffee, mince pie
10.30pm: Glass of water
Calories: 1,847
Alcohol units: 1.5
Day 4
8.30am: Cup of tea
10am: Porridge and semi-skimmed milk and sugar
Noon: Coffee
1.30pm: Two crumpets, yoghurt, banana
3.30pm: Two cups of tea and two mince pies
7pm: Smoked haddock, peas, poached egg, crusty roll, fruit jelly and cream, two glasses of wine
8.30pm: Coffee and a few nuts
10.30pm: Coffee
11pm: Water
Calories: 1,953
Alcohol units: 3
Day 5
7.30am: Cup of tea, slice of wholemeal bread and jam
8.30am: Fresh orange juice
10am: Coffee
1pm: Tuna sandwich, one orange and water
1.45pm: Coffee
4.30pm: Cup of tea
6pm: Braising steak and onions, mashed potatoes, broccoli and swede, one glass of wine, cup of tea
9pm: Water and four chocolates
Calories: 1,105
Alcohol units: 1.5
Day 6
9am: Glass of water
9.30am: Cup of tea and boiled egg, toast and fresh orange juice
10.30am: Coffee and satsuma
1pm: Sausage sandwich and fresh orange
3.45pm: Coffee and packet of Maltesers
5.30pm: Coffee
8pm: Two gin and tonics, Thai green curry and glass of water
10pm: Coffee
11.30pm: Water
Calories: 1,389
Alcohol units: 2.6
Day 7 (New Year's Eve)
9.30am: Two glasses of water
10am: Cup of tea, banana and two biscuits
11.30am: Coffee
1pm: Ham and salad sandwich, fresh orange juice
4pm: Cup of tea and slice of fruit cake
7pm: Two glasses of wine
8.30pm: Popadom, chicken tikka and rice, cheesecake, coffee and two chocolates, one brandy, two glasses of water
Midnight: Glass of champagne
Calories: 2,184
Alcohol units: 5.8
Weekly calorie total: 14,433.6
Weekly unit total: 27.1
MARK
DAYMAN
Mark, 33, is a cabinet maker from The Mounts, in North-ampton. His biggest alcohol consumption was on New Year's Eve, when he drank more than the weekly recommended amount in one evening.
Day 1 (Christmas Day)
10.30am: One bagel, scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, Philedelphia cheese, cup of coffee, glass of champagne
11am: Coffee
3pm: Turkey, potatoes, carrots, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, shallots, leeks in cheese sauce, stuffing, gravy, sausages, two portions of Christmas pudding with double cream, two large glasses of red wine, two glasses of port, glass of bourbon, five bottles of beer throughout the afternoon
9pm: Cheese and biscuits, bread, olives and pickles
Calories: 5,170
Alcohol units: 18.7
Day 2 (Boxing Day)
10am: Two pieces of toast with marmite and margarine, tea
Noon: Hot chocolate
1pm: Turkey, cheese, mayonnaise, mixed left-over vegetables, two mince pies and a bottle of beer
3pm: Bottle of beer
4pm: Crisps and humous
Evening: Sausages rolls, cheese, sauce, gherkins, cheesecake and ten bottles of beer
Calories: 5,221
Alcohol units: 20.4
Day 3:
10am: Two pieces of marmite, margarine on toast, cup of tea
2pm: Bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich with mayonnaise, pistachio nuts, five chocolates, three biscuits, six beers and five glasses of champagne
8pm: Thai vegetable curry with rice, a naan bread and onion bhajis plus a handful of cheese snacks
Calories: 3,638
Alcohol units: 20.7
Day 4
10am: Cup of coffee, a bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon
11am: Coffee
4pm: A packet of noodles and a chocolate brownie
9pm: Vegetable chilli and two fajitas, two glasses of port
Calories: 1,783
Alcohol units: 2.6
Day 5
11am: Two pieces of marmite on toast and a coffee
3pm: Left-over vegetable chilli and one and a half fajitas
5pm: A packet of Wotsits
9pm: Vegetable curry with rice and a naan bread, cheese and crackers, half bottle of red wine and four bottles of beer
Calories: 3,343
Alcohol units: 15.6
Day 6
11am: Two crumpets with two eggs and two fried sausages. coffee and a glass of pomegranate juice
3pm: An oxtail cup-a-soup, two pieces of bread and cheese
5pm: Coffee
6pm: Bottle of beer
7pm: Packet of Wotsits
7.30pm: Grilled salmon, fried potatoes, asparagus, curly kale and cheese sauce, four bottles of beer and ten chocolates plus salted popcorn
Calories: 3,016
Alcohol units: 8.5
Day 7 (New Year's Eve)
11am: Sausage sandwich with coffee
4pm: Fried noodles with Thai sauce and vegetables, coffee
9.30pm: Salmon, minted potatoes, vegetable curry, rice, cheese and biscuits, plus four bottles of beer, four large gin and tonics and two large Jack Daniels bourbon whiskey.
Calories: 3,236
Alcohol units: 22.4
Weekly calorie total: 25,407
Weekly unit total: 108.9
Donna Bowater
Student Donna, 20, from Pattishall, near Towcester, proved the resilience of the young by managing to enjoy Christmas and New Year and still only put on one pound in weight.
Day 1 (Christmas Day)
9.30am: Coffee, tropical fruit juice, croissant and chocolate biscuits
11am: Bucks Fizz and a few chocolates
1.30pm: Full Christmas dinner with champagne and Christmas pudding
7pm: Turkey sandwich, one piece of mushroom and mixed nut tart, cheese and biscuits, tiramisu and a red Martini
Calories: 3,689
Alcohol units: 5.4
Day 2 (Boxing Day)
8.30am: Honey loop cereal and a plum and apple smoothie
1.30pm: Christmas dinner, blackcurrant squash, home-made apple pie and Viennetta ice cream
3pm: Bacardi Breezer and a glass of champagne
7pm: Finger buffet of bread, cheese, pizza and salad, two cream cakes and Christmas cake, with ginger wine spritzer.
9pm: Apple and mango tea
Calories: 3,454
Alcohol units: 5.5
Day 3
8.30am: Blackcurrant tea and honey loop cereal
1pm: Turkey and cranberry sandwich and a piece of Christmas cake, half a glass of limeade
2pm: Three or four chocolates
4.30pm: Home-made turkey burger and salad with home-made chips, half a limeade, a piece of tiramisu, birthday cake and a mince pie
8pm: Glass of red wine, nuts and raisins
Calories: 3,079
Alcohol units: 2.1
Day 4
8am: Waffle with plums and maple syrup, bowl of honey loop cereal and a glass of tropical fruit juice
11.30am: Chevre (goats milk cheese) and black olives on toast, one plum and a glass of Vimto and lemonade
4.30pm: Meat and potato pie, new potatoes, sugar snap peas and frozen peas, one piece of Christmas cake and a glass of Vimto.
10.30pm: Peppermint tea
Calories: 2,227
Alcohol units: 0
Day 5
8.30am: One coffee, two waffles and maple syrup
12.20pm: Meat samosa
1pm: Turkey and pickle sandwich, a piece of Christmas cake and a glass of ginger ale
6pm: Roast poussin, roast potatoes and vegetables, blackcurrant cordial and soda water
11.30pm: Packet of salted peanuts
Calories: 1,964
Alcohol units: 0
Day 6
8am: Honey loop cereal, a fried egg toast sandwich and a strawberry smoothie
11.20am: Chevre, avocado and tomato toastie, a piece of Christmas cake and a ginger ale
5pm: Home-made chilli and chips with salad
8.30pm: Margarita
Calories: 2,538:
Alcohol units: 1.3
Day 7 (New Year's Eve)
8am: Coffee and a bacon sandwich
11.15am: Pasta in tomato and herb sauce, a glass of apple juice and one plum
5pm: Finger buffet of pizza, cheese, samosas and biscuits, a piece of Christmas cake and a glass of Shloer (sparkling juice drink)
Calories: 2,092
Alcohol units: 0
Weekly calorie total: 19,043
Weekly unit total: 14.3
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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