You’ve probably experienced the holiday season year-after-year where you feel run down, you’re eating on the go constantly, living on treats from gift baskets. This is a long season and if you don’t take care of yourself, you could likely get to New Year’s Eve and with the sniffles and barely able to zip your cocktail dress.
Let’s face it—staying healthy during the holidays isn’t usually easy or a priority.
But by keeping a few things in mind, you’ll make it through the holidays looking (and feeling!) great.
*Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
Not only will drinking lots of water keep your skin glowing, it will also help hold off some of the winter cold and coughs that tend to go around. Drink a glass of water before you hit the buffet table at parties to feel full and so you eat less. Alternating water and alcohol helps to keep the hangover at bay. Water is really the miracle “drug” that will make the whole season a breeze.
*Be mindful of what (and how much) you are eating.
Slowing down and taking the time to really taste what you’re eating will make you feel more satisfied and less likely to want seconds. Plus, when you eat slowly, your body has time to digest and you can stop eating when you feel full, rather than shoveling it all in and suddenly feeling like you’re going to explode. You may want to track your food in a journal, so you pay attention to what you are eating particularly when you are not at a party.
*Don’t join the my grandmother’s Clean Plate Club.
You don’t need to eat every morsel of food that lands on your plate. It’s okay to just taste things without eating a full-sized portion of every item. Just a taste can help you feel like you’re not missing out and will keep you from overeating to the point of food comas.
*Stay active.
You don’t have to spend an hour in the gym every day to make up for going to a family gathering and partaking in the feast. But you can get up off the couch. Take the whole family for a walk to look at the decorations in your neighborhood. Toss a football around in the backyard. Have a dance off. You’ll all feel more energetic and less likely to want to just continue munching all afternoon. Besides, there’s always the next day to get to the gym.
*Don’t forget to get some rest!
It’s so important to try to get at least 7 hours of sleep at night. During the holidays we tend to stay up late partying and then get up early to not miss out on the day. Exhaustion can easily creep up on you and the next thing you know you will be noshing on carbs or guzzling caffeine just to stay alert. Even a 15-minute cat nap can refresh and recharge your battery. A good thing to remember is the acronym HALT, which stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely and Tired. It is not wise to make decisions about food or wellness when you are experiencing any of those feelings.
Debbie Janoff, CINHC, AADP
Wholey Fit Nutrition, LLC
www.wholeyfitnutrition.com
info@wholeyfitnutrition.com