Staying Healthy During the Holidays
The holiday season is upon us, and most of us dread the thought of gaining a few extra pounds. We all want to enjoy the parties, gifts and time off to share with our family and friends, but how do we keep the scale from creeping up?
The good news is that the holidays don’t have to mean weight gain. If you focus on a healthy balance of food and exercise, you can keep off extra weight while still having fun. I’d like to share a few simple Holiday health tips to help you stay active and exercise during this season.
Limit holiday weight gain by enjoying your favorite dishes, while limiting others. Keep veggies on the menu!
Plan Ahead
If you are traveling, planning ahead is especially crucial. Take time to figure out what your options are so you’re ready for anything.
- Look for a hotel that has an exercise room or a pool.
- If staying with family, ask if they have any fitness equipment.
- If you work out regularly, stick to your routine. Carve out some personal time that won’t interfere with group activities and get it done – and why not invite someone along who will keep you company and provide a bit of a push? If you don’t have a routine, recruit someone at a similar fitness level and move…you can walk, jog or find another activity that you both like.
- Do simple exercises on the floor such as sit-ups or pushups while watching TV.
Enjoy Yourself!
Be realistic. Don’t try forcing yourself to lose pounds during the holidays, especially if that hasn’t been your goal in the previous weeks or months. Instead, try to maintain your current weight.
- Eat until you’re satisfied, not stuffed. With the abundance of food on the table, serve yourself your favorite foods and limit the other options. Try to include vegetables and fruits to keep your meals balanced and nutritions.
- If you overeat at one meal, go light on the next.
- Water is your best option. Drink a full glass of water before your meal, and you’ll be less likely to overeat.
- Be careful with any other type of beverage. Alcohol can induce overeating, and non-alcoholic drinks can be loaded with sugar and calories.
- Take your own healthy dish to a holiday gathering.
No gym? Activate your body by doing push-ups, sit-ups or plank exercises practically anywhere.
I want to encourage everyone to have fun by staying active during the holiday season. Look for ways to stay active even if you are out of town or you have guests staying with you.
- Walk as much as possible. Use the stairs, make extra laps at the mall, or volunteer to walk the dog.
- If you’re hanging out with kids, set up a game of football, tag or hide and seek. You’ll have a blast!
- Wear your running or walking shoes as much as you can. You may find an opportunity to go for a quick walk or jog.
- Offer to help with housework, shoveling snow or raking leaves.
I want to wish everyone a great holiday season this year. Have fun, make healthy food choices and stay active during this wonderful time of the year! Blessings to everyone!
