10 Tips for Having Healthy Holidays

Did you know that 75% of Americas gain up to 5 pounds during the holidays? Even worse is that according to the New England Journal of Medicine, most people don’t lose their holiday weight gain. Year over year, those pounds can really add up. So, what can you do to stay fit during the holidays? Here are my top tips for healthy holidays.

10 Tips for Having Healthy Holidays

Be Flexible

Your typical workout days or visit to the gym may be disrupted by office parties, and other family commitments. Add these events to your calendar so you can also plan workout times around these other activities. If there is an after work office party when you typically go to the gym, plan to exercise before work or at least take a brisk walk during lunch.

Home Workouts

If you are a gym goer, chances are your usual routine is going to chance during the holidays. Make a point of creating home workouts. Even small bursts of 5- 10 minutes of exercise throughout the day can add up. Here is a great post about workouts from home.

Reduce Stress

The holiday season can be a very stressful time of year. Take some time to reduce stress in a variety of ways. Here’s my post for some great ways to reduce stress during this crazy season.

Be Accountable

Track your workouts and your calorie intake. Writing down how many calories you are burring and how many you are eating can really help you make a decision to pass on that extra serving of pumpkin pie. Enlist a friend or relative to be an accountability partner where you help one another stay on track.

Stay Hydrated

Your body will often feel hungry when it is actually thirsty. Drinking enough fluid throughout your day will help you feel full and more energized to make sure you fit in a workout. Staying hydrated also gives your skin a healthy glow, which we all need as we head into the dry winter months.

Don’t Skip Meals

Some people think it’s a good idea to skip a meal to “save calories” for a holiday event. This will just set you up to over indulge when you get there. Start each day with a healthy breakfast.

Moderation is Key

It’s ok to have some of those holiday treats. Just don’t have them all in one night. Maybe have a cocktail at one party and skip the dessert. Have the dessert at about function, but skip the alcohol. The veggie platter and salads are a great way to fill you up before your consider other temptations.

Follow the 80/20 Rule

Allow yourself to eat about 20 percent of whatever you want, but 80 percent should stay health with low sugar and saturated fats.

Get the Family Involved

Encourage the entire family to be active throughout the holiday season. Take an after dinner walk with the extended family. Have a pre-dinner game of tag football. Getting the whole family into the act will help you stay on track and make for fun family bonding too.

Be Consistent

To reach any goal, you need to be consistent. Try not to make excuses like “I’ll workout tomorrow.” Before you know it, tomorrow turns into next week. Make a commitment to yourself to stay on track. You can do it!

 Have more fitness tips to share? Let us know in a comment.

Sharing is caring!