As the countdown to the holidays begins, the one thing on all of our minds is the food. And the doing nothingness. Ah, how amazing break is. Except, then kicks in the harsh reality; packing in the sweets means packing on the pounds. One of the hardest battles to fight is that of the Turkey day feast, and even the holiday splurge on those amazing home-cooked meals and dinners out (paid for by your parents). Although break is completely amazing, the aftermath isn’t so much- so, here are a few tips and tricks to trying to stay healthy over this holiday break:
1. Morning Exercise
It’s hard enough to wake up in the morning, but believe it or not, exercising in the morning is perhaps the easiest thing you can do over break to ensure that you stay fit! Moving your body as soon as you wake up helps you start the day off right, and gets rid of any guilty feelings you have later in the day after eating. On top of that, getting a quick 15-30 minute workout in helps your body stay stress free, and ensures that nothing, not even that amazing apple pie, will come between you and your goals. From watching YouTube videos on short at home complete workouts, to maybe even going for a morning walk, you can keep up your energy all day and feel great.
2. Take the Focus off Food
What makes you the most excited for the holidays? Maybe it’s going home and seeing your friends, getting that much needed relaxing time with family, whatever it is, get that focus off food! By turning the “stuff my face with all the cookie dough in the fridge” time to creating DIY holiday projects, like a gingerbread house or making a wreath you can curb those cravings by keeping busy doing much more healthy things. Plan group activities that don’t consist of going out to eat, like serving meals at a community soup kitchen, play board games, decorate the house; any of these fun ideas make memories, not calories! These memories are what make the holiday times special, and whether you can convince your family to run a community 3K or not, taking the focus off of food will make your break super enjoyable.
3. Survey-Then-Pick Method
For the times when food is your focus, make an effort to take your time. Look at all the options you have, choosing only your favorite foods. Skip over the foods you are “eh” about, and make sure to pile on the fruits and veggies to keep your plate balanced. By making sure that you take a good look at all of the options before just grabbing everything insight, you ensure that what you are eating are the delicious foods that make you, and your tummy, the most satisfied. That way, you will be less likely to get up for seconds, or thirds, thinking that you missed out on a food you love.
4. No Skipping Meals
On the nights that you have a family dinner planned, or a big event where food will be served, make sure that you don’t skip your meals through the day! Some of us might think it is a sure way to not gain those holiday pounds, but results show it is quite the opposite. Skipping meals causes you to over eat when you do eat, and you end up feeling much worse (you know, that overly-full feeling). Instead of starving yourself all day and packing it all in at one time, stick to small, nutrient dense meals throughout the day. Have some fruit, a small salad, lean protein, and some healthy fats just to balance things out before your dinner plans. This ensures that you get the energy you need to last the day, and not going completely crazy come dinnertime. Now, the same facts hold true if you accidentally over-eat one day, or at one meal; don’t stress! Don’t starve your body to compensate for a few bad choices; instead, make better decisions the next day, and exercise it off.
5. Be Realistic
Perhaps the best thing you can do over this break, and even just in general, is to make sure you set realistic goals for yourself. Don’t try to lose pounds during the holidays, instead, maybe se the goal of just keeping your current weight. The holidays are no time to stress over your diet, or to freak out if you eat one cookie. The holidays are a time to relax and decompress, and you cant do that if you are restricting yourself so harshly. By setting the attainable goal of just maintaining your current weight, you can have a much less stressful experience and keep up your motivation to get back on track once the holidays are over. In terms of general health and fitness, realistic goals are the way you make lasting, and exciting, progress towards your ultimate goal of a healthy lifestyle.
6. Find a Balance
On the topic of de-stressing, this time of year is all about enjoying yourself with your friends and family. Try to find a balance during this time, without depriving yourself of the things you love most (that may be cookies, or cake). Just try to make sure that you stay on track, during the season, and even before and after. By keeping your diet and health consistent, it makes it a natural lifestyle, one with a little wiggle room for some cheat days here and there. If you overeat one meal, as said before, go light on the next. Factually, it takes about 500 calories per day above your normal consumption to gain one pound. So there you have it- it is impossible to gain weight from eating that one piece of cake, or that extra cookie!
7. Stick to a Routine
Before you get home, or at least before you go on break, make a set plan for yourself. One that, like said above, is reasonable. And then, stick to that routine as best you can. By having a solid plan in place, even if you veer off track a day or two, is probably one of the best strategic ways to remain fit and healthy throughout the season. Make sure in that plan you get active at least 4 times a week for 30 minutes (like our waking up early exercise suggestion) and include protein with your breakfast. This protein will give you the energy you need, and boost your metabolism for the entire day.
8. Cook Up Healthy Treats
We all know that during the holiday season everyone has parties, and you are usually expected to contribute a dish, wine, or dessert. So, why wait to be asked? Volunteer to bring a healthy dish to the party! That way, you can ensure that the party will have at least one healthy option that you can eat as much of as you like without feeling guilty, and without being tempted. Surprisingly, it is really fun to create something new from scratch; you can cook it with your friends, or family to make it a fun activity. And, it is so easy! Making healthy swaps while baking are perhaps the easiest; you can use coconut oil instead of butter, natural sugars or stevia instead of sugar, and quinoa or almond flour instead of regular flour. Check out Pinterest for awesome ideas on healthy treats and dishes you can bring to your next holiday party!