This is my favorite time of year; with Thanksgiving and Christmas being back to back you don’t have to wait very long to enjoy more turkey, more stuffing, and more pie! If you’re like me the holidays are not complete without have double helpings of everything at the dinner table. However, when you are trying to maintain peak fitness so that you can fit into that LBD on New Year’s Eve, too much food may derail those plans, so I’m giving 10 tips for staying healthy this Holiday season.
1. Set holiday goals
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Jot down your health and nutrition goals before the holidays start. Knowing what you are trying to achieve can help give you that extra willpower when you are going for that third piece of pumpkin pie.
2. Cut down your own Christmas tree
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Get an extra holiday workout in by cutting down your own Christmas tree. Walking around finding exactly the right tree is a sure way to burn some calories!
3. Alter recipes
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We all know that most of the delicious foods we consume during the holidays are high in fat and in calories. When cooking this year, reduce the amount of sugar you use in desserts and instead of using white flour, use whole wheat flour.
4. Lighten up on the gravy
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When the gravy is being passed around this year, make the decision to just pass it along. If you can’t resist, only give yourself a small spoonful.
5. Be picky on the desserts
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I am in no way telling you to pass up on the desserts, but be picky and eat only the most special sweets. If you look forward to that special pie your grandma makes every year, indulge…. but just because there are sugar cookies lying out does not mean you have to eat them.
6. Be picky with food in general
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Don’t fill your plate with a little bit of everything if you don’t love a little bit of everything. Only eat those foods that you really love.
7. Slow down while eating
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Be slow and thoughtful when eating. Give your stomach time to catch up with your eyes.
8. Get rid of the guilt.
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Do not allow yourself to feel guilty about indulging a little bit during the holidays. When you guilt yourself over allowing yourself foods you normally don’t eat you only breed more bad behaviors. Just relax and enjoy yourself!
9. Feel free to say no
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Even though your grandma is pushing you to have seconds or go back for more pie, politely say no.
10. Keep moving
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If you were working out before the holidays, you can still workout through them. Keep up the momentum, you’ve got this!
Sources:
[1.] Greatist – http://greatist.com/eat/holiday-healthy-eating-tips
[2.] Medical Xpress – http://medicalxpress.com/news/2016-12-experts-track-holiday-season.html
[3.] RD – http://www.rd.com/health/wellness/9-stayhealthy-tips-for-the-holidays/
Enjoy your holidays!
By: Victoria Nelson
