♫ Deck the halls with boughs of hollyDeck Fa la la la la, la la la la. ♪
♫ Tis’ the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la, la la … ♪
I don’t know about you, but the holiday season is one of my favorite times of the year.
I love the special faith traditions and family customs that have been passed down through the generations – especially the English traditions. All these years later, and I still uphold and continue sharing those treasured traditions with my own.
I love the time spent with my children and grandchildren as well as with the special people in my life. It’s also a special opportunity to reflect on special memories created with loved ones who’ve passed on. For our family, this includes my own parents and in-laws.
The older I get, the more precious that time spent with family and friends becomes, and I’m sure you can relate to that.
Still, it IS the holidays, and although joyous in many ways, this time of year also comes with feasts, festivities and social activities that often involves food excess. When you couple that with the busyness of the season, it’s easy to slip off track with our health goals, miss our dates at the gym and indulge a little.
As this holiday season approaches, many of us are preparing for big celebrations and parties. Food, snacks, wine, beer, beverages… there is no other time of the year that people like to fill themselves up to their hearts content (or stomach is bursting!)
If you want to maintain your waistline as much as possible this holiday season or even lose weight while people around you are packing on the holiday pounds, then this is for you!
Below are 5 tips for keeping yourself healthy this holiday season:
1. Eat Snacks Moderately
Let’s face it, snacks are abundant during the holiday season (as if they aren’t already throughout the year). If you take a seat within an arm’s reach of the snack table, you’re going to have a tough time keeping yourself from unconsciously grabbing handfuls of party mix, candies and the like, and picking at them all day. By sitting on the other side of the room, getting to the snacks involves a conscious effort into getting up and walking over to get at the snacks.
2. Exercise, Exercise, Exercise!
There’s no better thing to do during this festive season than to exercise! If the weather permits it, go out and take a quick walk around the house or block. If your celebration is taking place in a colder climate, you’ll be more inspired to quicken your pace and burn a few extra calories in the process. If the weather is bad, do 10-20 squats, stretches, or other brief exercises each time you go to the restroom. You only want to do just enough to elevate your heart rate, but not break out into a sweat. Chances are, no one will know what you’re doing, and you won’t have to feel self-conscious about trying to maintain your figure.
3. Eat More Raw Foods
Take an extra scoop of vegetables and fruit when filling your plate, and by the time you finish, you won’t have room for the other foods which are higher in calories and more likely to cause you to gain weight. Also, avoid fatty and fried foods (they taste good, but you know they aren’t good for you!)
4. Drink A Lot Of Water Throughout The Day
Water helps your body stay hydrated and healthy. Drink a glass or two of water around 20 minutes before each meal, as well as during and between them. The liquid in your stomach will help trick your mind into not feeling as hungry, which reduces the tendency to gorge yourself on potentially fattening foods. Water also aids in the digestion process allowing your body more time to absorb the goodness in the food you consume.
5. Eat In Smaller Portions
Instead of eating platefuls of food, try eating smaller portions throughout the day. No doubt, everything at the table looks good, and it’s all you can do to keep from filling your plate 2-3 times so that you can sample everything. An easy way to combat this urge is to simply take a smaller portion than you normally would of those dishes you’re most interested in, especially belt-bursting desserts. Split a piece of pie or cake with your spouse, child, or another family member so you aren’t eating a full portion.
Keeping healthy during this holiday season is simply making sure you follow healthy habits just like any other time of the year.
Here’s my biggest tip:
Don’t Overdo It. Avoid the starving and stuffed extremes and you’ll win the health game this holiday season.
So now it’s your turn:
What’s your favorite holiday tradition or your favorite holiday food?
Mine is the time I share with my grandchildren baking our English traditional foods plus ‘making’ my family pull English crackers and wear the silly hats they contain, and telling the silly jokes that are in there.
Hit reply and let me know your favorite holiday traditions or favorite foods. I love reading what others hold near and dear to their hearts during the holidays!
If you’d like some help setting up your Health Strategy to Win the Holidays (and stay on track for your health goals, without overindulging and losing control), then I’d love to chat. Connect with me to schedule your FREE “Healthy-For-The-Holidays” Strategy Chat. This is a Zero Obligation call and by the end of it, you’ll have some solutions tailored just for you to help you glide through the holidays guilt, stress, and anxiety-free. How awesome would that be?
How? Simply reply to this email and put “Healthy-For-The-Holidays” Strategy Chat in the subject line or email me at lwadsworth@verizon.net or book your strategy call >>here.<<
