It isn’t always easy to stay healthy and on track during the holiday season when most people are visiting family, relaxing, and indulging in delicious food. The biggest challenge is to enjoy a vacation without jeopardizing all the hard work already put in throughout the year.
Here are some tips on how to survive the holiday season:
Maintain a Workout Routine
Travel and a change of scene are normal during the holiday season, but taking a short trip doesn’t mean taking time off from an established workout routine. To stay fit during the holiday season, pack some workout gear and plan to fit in an activity every day.
- Stay on schedule: It’s easier to get any physical activity done during the first 30 minutes to an hour of the day. Schedule a routine to make it fit into other obligations.
- Improvise: If the gym is not an option, try to exercise without workout equipment. Using everyday items can make a workout more fun and exciting. Traveling? Try a new workout class or explore a new hike path.
- Mini workouts: If time is an issue, shorten a 1-hour workout to 30 minutes. The average adult only needs 30 minutes, 5 days a week of physical activity.
5 Ways to Eat Smarter During the Holidays
Surviving Christmas on a diet is not impossible. By learning to practice better eating habits, eating smarter will come as second nature.
1. Don’t Arrive Hungry
Eat healthily throughout the day. A hearty breakfast, a light lunch, and a nutritious snack before arriving at the party are ideal. Skipping meals before a holiday party will only cause overeating or overindulging later in the evening.
2. Bring Something Healthy to the Party
By offering to bring a healthy dish to the party, there is more control over what makes it on the plate. The host will appreciate the gesture, and it’s easier to choose to eat well when surrounded by a few healthy options.
3. Food Gifts
When going back home for the holidays, it’s expected to receive gifts like cookies, cake, or various other sweets. Refrain from eating the full amount by opening these gifts for everyone to share, either during the party, back at work, or with friends.
4. Balance the Plate
Fill half of the plate with fruits and vegetables and the other half with lean proteins and starch. This makes it easier to enjoy a small dessert without feeling guilty.
5. Take a Break
After eating a full plate, giving the stomach a break can help with feeling full. Use this time to drink water, make some conversation, then recheck hunger levels.
How to Cleanse the Body After the Holidays
It’s normal to gain a few pounds during the holidays, but don’t resort to a crash diet to get back on track. A healthy weight is about balance.
- Focus on plant-based meals: Don’t attempt to eat less; instead, eat nourishing and healthy meals. Eat more fruits and vegetables with fibers and antioxidants, and plant-based proteins.
- Experiment with saunas: Saunas are a great way to sweat and detox. The heat pulls toxins from deep under the skin and exfoliates. Saunas also facilitate recovery after any workout.
- Stay hydrated: Drink warm lemon water. Lemons provide vitamin C and many health benefits that can promote hydration and digestion when combined with water. Drinking enough water can also reduce cravings, especially with the added lemon flavor.
- Get sleep: A natural body detox occurs during sleep. Get optimal sleep to help the brain reorganize itself and assists the body to recharge.
Make It Through
Follow and stick with a routine, practice better eating habits, and don’t feel guilty for possibly indulging. End the holiday season with a body detox to get the new year started.
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