Healthy for the Holidays
You work too hard all year to be healthy and fit to let the Holiday season set you back. Or perhaps you have big goals for yourself in 2021 and you would like to get a jump start on your endeavor to be healthy and fit in the New Year. I hate to see people work so hard and get tripped up by all the office parties, happy hours, unhealthy foods and the never-ending cookies that literally show up at your door from very well-meaning neighbors.
In an effort to help out, I compiled some tips and tricks to help you stay on track and maintain your healthy lifestyle in a time of year that’s symbol is literally a fat guy. Sorry Santa, these tips are for you too!
Button it up:
Refer back to my blog 5 Small Changes to a Healthier You and spend the next week cleaning up your diet, getting back into your workout routine, cleaning out the pantry ( i.e. toss or donate the Halloween candy) and focusing on your health. If your health and fitness routine has already fallen a bit that is ok, just take this next week to get it back on track and refocus. Drink water, brighten up your plate, fix your carbs and get your body moving. You got this! Jut take some time to set yourself up for success.
2. Plan Ahead:
With all the holiday get togethers, happy hours, and cookies everywhere it is so important to stay on track by creating a weekly schedule. Get out your calendar and plan out your healthy eating and workout schedule. Then add in any special events. If you have a party to go to on Friday make sure you get your workouts in earlier in the week. You probably will not have time to workout the day of the party and you may not feel up to it the day after if it is a late night so get it in Sunday through Thursday. That way you can enjoy your day off of working out without the guilt and without missing a beat. I do recommend trying to get a light workout in the day after a party. It does not have to be a Rockstar killer of a workout, just enough to get a sweat going and clear out some of those toxins from the night before. Maybe try one of my on-demand express workouts. That way you stay on track, release some positive endorphins and feel good about yourself going forward.
3. Go Light:
Plan your week around those holiday events and parties. If you have a party on Friday plan to eat healthy all week and then enjoy the party in moderation. If you happen to have more than one party in one week, I suggest planning which one will be your cheat night and do the best you can to maintain your healthy routine at the others. Maybe drink sparkling water at your work party where you are expected to be on your best behavior anyway.
On the days where you have a special event in the evening go light and healthy throughout the day. Be impeccable with your eating that whole day. Drink your water, pack a healthy lunch, avoid lunch dates and those afternoon sweet treats. On the other hand do not go hungry! Do not starve yourself all day, slow down your metabolism and overeat at that party. Deprivation never works, it will backfire on you for sure. People that deprive themselves end up overeating later on and will make poorer food choices to top it all off. Eat on your regular schedule ever 3-4 hours just make it healthy.
4. Bring a healthy dish to pass:
It can feel very alienating to feel like the only one not digging in or putting down the cocktails at the party so arm yourself with a healthy dish to share. Most likely you may not know what is being served at the event and if there will be healthy options for you to choose from. It may not be the picture perfect clean eating foods you see in a magazine as it is a party. Even I don’t give apples out a Halloween! Bring a healthier option that will not wreck your diet completely and is party worthy. Check out my Pinterest board Healthy for the Holidays for some healthy..ish recipes. I will keep adding as we go through the season. Other simple ideas like shrimp cocktail, lettuce wraps, or grilled chicken and vegetable skewers can work as well. This is also a great way to share and connect with others. Sometime we shy away from sharing healthy journey with others because its seems easier to conform to the old unhealthy ways we are used to. When we share we might find not only find support but we might empower others to be true to themselves and honor their own journey and what is important to them as well.
5. Pick your poison and sip it slow:
Don’t try out all of the Christmas cookies at the party rather choose only of your favorites and make it worth it. These are my favorite indulgences at holiday time, I made it into a Pinterest board so I am really clear on what my favorites are and where I plan to indulge. Same thing with eggnog or whatever your drink of choice is, enjoy it in moderation, go for the healthiest version of that drink, sip it slow and enjoy it. You can add extra ice to slow you down if you tend to be a quick drinker. That might be best for everyone if you know what I mean. Other little tips include sharing your food with friends or splitting a cookie in half to lessen the caloric load the holidays can bring. Make yourself a plate even where appetizers are involved so that you are aware of what you have eaten. We have all had those moments where you have shared a plate of nachos with friends and no one knows how the plate is empty or where the food went. Make a plate for yourself, sit down, enjoy it and move on to enjoying the party.
6. Bring in Gratitude
This is my favorite tip because it brings in the true spirit of the Holiday’s. With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays it is great to stop take and breath and bring a little mindfulness into your holiday season. Taking the time to focus on the time you are spending with family and friends can naturally crowd out any focus on food or other things that can get in the way of your healthy mind, body and spirit. Start every morning with a few mindful breaths, clear your mind and list a few things you are grateful for. Notice your energy shift from a stressful place to a place of peace. Taking the time to set your energy and your intention has the power to create a healthy happy holiday season all on its own. Add in the other tips and you will be well on your way to a healthy new year.
It is never one night out or one cookie that gets you off track during the holiday season! It is what you do every day that matters, the habits you create for yourself and the baseline you come back to after veering off track a bit. So, enjoy the holidays parties and all the festivities that go along with it because let face it, everything is hard right now and we deserve it! Enjoy every minute of it and then get right back on track. Focus on enjoying the event, the moments we get to share with friends and family. When our perspective shifts in that way, we will naturally crowd out the bad stuff that can sabotage our health. We find true connection with others; we enjoy the moment and we stay true to what is important to us.
Stay Healthy and Safe this Holiday Season!
From My Family to Yours, Be Well.
Jill
