In addition to making better food and drink choices, keep these helpful tips in mind over the holiday season. Don’t deprive yourself, but be conscious of what you are doing. You don’t want to start the new year off stressfully trying to start all over again.
1. Contrary to what I usually would say, during the holiday season you should weigh yourself regularly. By being aware of when we start to gain some weight, we can make minor adjustments to our diet and exercise regimen to get us back on track. If we wait until after the holidays to face the scale, we may have to make much larger, harder adjustments to get back on track.
2. Practice portion control without having to completely deprive yourself of some of your favorite holiday meals. Instead of indulging, practice eating only 1/4 or 1/2 servings of these meals and load up the rest of your dish with healthier choices. These healthier choices should be high fiber vegetables and leaner cuts of meat to help keep you full longer.
3. Make time for exercise on a regular basis. This will help maintain your weight and could be a great stress relief since the holiday season also comes with a lot of chaos. Try to keep your regular training regimen but if you can't, realistically find 3-4 days during the week to break a sweat for 30 minutes. Are you traveling and might not have a gym to go to? There are tons of routines you can do in your hotel room. [vacation guide download link??]
4. Plan ahead so you know what you’re doing, where you’re going, and what will be there. Never go to a holiday dinner on an empty stomach, that is a disaster waiting to happen. Doing so will result in overeating and making poor food choices. Have a snack, or even a small meal, before going to a holiday event and don't go straight to the food when walking in. Also, avoid socializing by the food table. You subconsciously will start picking and the next thing you know the bowl of chips are gone and you’re onto the next platter.
5. Practicing mindful eating means you are paying attention to what and how much you are eating. You listen to your hunger cues and only eat until you are full. Some tips to mindful eating are eating sitting down, eating slow and actually chewing your food, and focusing on how you're feeling when you eat so you know when your body is telling you to stop eating.
BONUS: Drink a cup of tea before bed. Poor food choices can cause poor sleep patterns. Having a cup of chamomile tea 30 minutes before bed can help to sooth and relax the body. It can also help fight off the bloating caused by some of those not so healthy foods you chose at the holiday party.
Don’t be so hard on yourself this holiday season, but also don’t let yourself totally fall off track. Continue your routines leading up to the holidays, focus on clean whole foods, and plan your holiday schedules. Remembering these strategies and swaps will allow you to still enjoy your celebrations, but also be more mindful of what your putting into your body. Healthy eating is a lifestyle, it’s not a temporary diet. Don’t allow the holidays to ruin all your hard work. Make better choices, eating healthier, and get some workouts in here and there. Trust me, your body will thank you later.
Happy Holidays!
Simone Leta
sleta@varsityhousegym.com
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