Tis’ the Season! The holiday season is filled with friends, family, drinks and fabulous food! This can present challenges to your healthy lifestyle and fitness regimen. While it’s easy to skip your work-outs, indulge in festive foods and forgo eating clean, it is possible to maintain a healthy lifestyle during the holiday season.
Here are my five easy tips for a healthy lifestyle during holiday season:
1. LIMIT SUGAR: I know, I know. It’s so hard to avoid with all the great cookies and cakes at the holiday parties and family gatherings. Try to eat foods that have a healthy fat and fiber content before heading for the desert table. For example, for appetizers: choose hummus, small amounts of cheese, eat the veggies but skip the creamy dips as they tend to be mayonnaise based. These foods will keep you satiated and fuller longer. Hopefully, it will decrease your cravings for sugary treats later on.
2. DRINK WATER: Drink plenty of it! Lack of sleep, traveling by airplane, and consuming alcoholic beverages dehydrates you. Even being dehydrated a little bit may have an impact on your health. If you are feeling thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Another telltale sign of dehydration is food cravings, in particular sugar and salt. Your body is mistaking hunger for thirst. If you are drinking wine with dinner, drink a glass of water in-between glasses. Drink a glass of water with lemon first thing in the morning.
3. SLEEP: Holiday parties and late nights can leave us sleep deprived. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, sleep plays an essential role in good health and well-being. As we sleep, our body is working to support healthy brain function and maintain physical health. Try to achieve 7-9 hours of quality sleep. Keep the room cool and dark. Sleep is not a luxury, it’s a necessity for your overall health.
4. MOVE IT: Our schedules can get pretty crazy during the holiday. Even if you don’t have access to the gym, try to incorporate physical activity daily. Go for a walk, run or hike. Download fitness apps. If you are traveling, pack resistance bands. Find a local gym as some gyms allow you to pay per day. Don’t give up on your fitness goals!
5: EAT MINDFULLY: This can be hard especially when you are constantly surrounded with great food. There is a lot of temptation. Scan the room or table before you decide what to eat. Skip cream-based sauces, dressings, and soups. Your plate should be half veggies. Choose healthy complex carbs. Watch your portion sizes. When you do decide on what to eat, make sure it is nutrient-dense and full of flavor.
Finally, relax and enjoy! Don’t beat yourself up if you indulged a little too much. Try to plan better and reset for the next day.
Happy Holidays!!
Evolve Wellness, LLC
Andrea is a health and wellness coach at Evolve Wellness, LLC. At Evolve Wellness, LLC we focus on eating clean healthy food, fitness, anti-aging, and beauty for leading a healthy lifestyle. You can find out more on www.evolveholisticsolutions.com.
Note: The role of a health and wellness coach is not to diagnose, treat or cure any disease, condition or other physical or mental ailment of the human body. The information on this website should not be seen as medical or nursing advice and is not meant to take the place of consulting licensed health professionals.