The Christmas season is just around the corner. With all the excitement and fun of the holidays also comes stress, poor eating habits, short cut workouts, and other healthy lifestyle sacrifices. Don't let it happen this year!
Whether you love or dread getting together with the family or your place of employment during the season, it's bound to happen. Temptation for unhealthy sugary foods will be abundant, and most people lose their way, gaining unwanted weight and feeling tired, stressed and bloated for days at a time.
This is often also a vacation time. If you're heading on vacation, is it worth it to throw away the gains you've made for a little play time? Whatever the case may be, you can still stay fit and healthy during this holiday season. We've compiled the top 10 ways that you can stay fit and healthy throughout this holiday season, leaving you feeling refreshed in the new year.
1. Avoid appetizers
Heading to a party? The best thing you can do to avoid overeating is to avoid appetizers. These will fill you up before the meal, and you'll end up stuffing yourself unnecessarily. Also, appetizers at parties are usually high in salt, wheat or simple sugars. They are often prepackaged and full of preservatives.
If you are very hungry and can't wait for the meal, opt for healthy, natural snacks; nuts, fresh veggies and dip, and other fresh foods. These won't fill you up, and are full of healthy nutrients!
2. Pack your lunch
Sure, this season is busy. Shopping for gifts and getting together with out of town family members will keep you on your toes, making the smaller tasks more difficult to accomplish.
During this season, most people spend twice as much on eating out because they complain of not having enough time time do groceries and pack adequate lunches.
If you can afford a few minutes per week picking out simple lunch ideas you'll avoid spending a whole lot of money on fast foods, and be able to control what you eat. Ready made lunch items are available in most groceries, including fresh, pre-cut veggie portions with dipping sauce.
3. Pack plenty of snacks
A part of packing a good lunch is to back appropriate snacks. This is especially important during the Christmas season because you'll be faced with all sorts of sugary treats at every turn. You'll need to have healthy snacks you can rely on. If you know you may have to go shopping right after work, avoid the inevitable snack purchase along the way.
Its a good idea to always carry almonds, nuts or a trail mix with you. Keep one jar at your workplace and another small tupper ware in your car or in your purse. Keep yourself alert and saving precious dollars without worrying about what you're eating!
More Great Ways To Stay Healthy During The Holidays
4. Avoid sugary beverages
When you attend parties, be careful to avoid sugary drinks at any cost. These are not worth it. This includes sodas and coolers. You're better off with water and a glass of wine or bottle of beer. Increasing sugar intake is the quickest way to start gaining fat mass, especially when combined with stress.
5. Prepare a travel fitness program
To stay fit you'll need to exercise. No amount of healthy eating can replace some good old fashioned exercise! There are several scenarios you may find yourself in... you may be on vacation in a hotel, staying at a friends or with family, or travelling. In all of these situations, you should have a travel fitness program planned for yourself.
Take just 20 minutes in the morning or during a quiet moment to perform a brief full body workout. A good travel workout requires no equipment and just a small space. Include squats, lunges, push ups, burpees, sit ups, jump squats and more for your workout. Do 3 or 4 rounds before or after a long drive and you'll feel amazing- without having spent time at the gym!
6. Brown bag leftovers
Going out to eat? Don't worry about finishing your plate. You can always pack it to go! This is a good rule to follow anytime you go out to eat. Meal portions are too much for most people to finish, so when you receive your plate, expect to pack half of it for the next days lunch. This will help you save money and time with packing your meals to go as well!
7. Don't deprive yourself
One of the biggest messages going out to folks like yourself during the holidays is to avoid temptation. Unfortunately, when we finally give in, we feel guilty and sad. A cookie, a glass of wine, champagne or a slice of cake is not going to ruin you. Go ahead and eat something if you must, get it over with and don't feel guilty. Its also a good idea to actually enjoy the holiday season.
8. Eat beforehand
You'll likely have a few Christmas parties to attend, as usual. Its a good idea not to starve yourself before going. Arriving to a party very hungry usually ends badly. Eat as normal before you go to avoid overeating and feeling bloated or guilty afterwards.
9. Eat tummy-friendly foods
This is an idea which may help you in cases of overeating! Tummy-friendly foods are things like yogurt, which help to line the stomach and digestive tract. It soothes and coats it; so in case you do overeat, be sure that the feeling will pass soon enough, and you'll be back to normal in a jiff.
10. Prepare place-takers
Finally, be sure that you have a place-taker in mind. This is a technique for people who have a very hard time saying no to their temptation foods. If you're the type that won't stop once you start, come prepared with a place-taker for that food. Whenever you see it, grab your place-taker. For cookies, eat a carrot or celery stick. Place takers can be anything from a glass of water to almonds, nuts, veggies, etc.
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