Have a Jolly Holiday without Gaining the Santa Belly
Angela Wright, Holistic Nutritional Consultant
Every year I always get asked – How do I make it through the holidays without gaining weight? Here are my top 5 healthy habits to follow through the holiday season to allow you to start your new year on the right foot – and in your skinny jeans!
- Stick with Your Routines
As much as you can, keep up with your regular sleep and awake times, your normal exercise routine, and your regular meal schedule. When we get off routine it’s much more common for the whole holiday to seem like a blur where we lost control of everything, including our will to make healthy choices.
- Continue to Eat Meals and Snacks Throughout the Day
It’s not the fact that you are having too many Christmas cookies that’s the big deal, it’s that you’re having Christmas cookies instead of your regular fruit and almonds snack because you skipped breakfast and now your blood sugar is too low to make a good decision. Especially if you have a party or gathering to attend, ensure you are going on a happy stomach full of whole foods. When we skip meals to ‘make room’ for the unhealthy choices, we are more likely to fill up on them instead of just having a nibble.
- Stay Hydrated
Staying on top of your water intake will allow you to keep up your energy levels and keep toxins flowing out of your body. Often we will partake in more dehydrating beverages like seasonal lattes, rum and egg nog, and New Year’s champaign. Drinking ample water allows your body to attempt to combat these ‘extras’ and help prevent hangovers. Remember to double fist – one water with every dehydrating beverage.
- Plan Your 20% Ahead of Time
Our 20% are those choices we make in a day that are perhaps not the healthiest of options, but are emotionally enjoyable. We know that when we go to a holiday gathering, it is most likely not what we would be having for a regular dinner. Plan ahead to buffer this. Earlier in the week, skip the random mocha or danish to ‘save up’ for the soiree. The day of, ensure to eat a few servings for veggies and fruit, whole foods protein, and good fats. Then at the event you can consciously choose a few items that would normally not be on your list.
- Enjoy Yourself!
The holidays are to be a time of enjoyment and relaxation. If you are stressing over food choices, your body is not benefitting from the act of relaxation. Making an unhealthy choice and fretting about it afterwards causes more damage in the body than the food itself. Eat, gather, enjoy, and relax!
Angela Wright, RNCP, can be found at The Woman’s Place Thursdays 4-6pm and Fridays 9-11am. Book your free 15 minute consultation, or accountability package at the front desk today.