Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.
Jim Rohn
When you’re trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, the holidays can be a real challenge. Watching your diet is next to impossible with so many Christmas meals and treats tempt you for weeks. Germs are hard to avoid when you travel on a train or plane in order to visit family. Even if traveling doesn’t make you sick, a little too much holidays eggnog just might cathc up to you. Follow the tips i’ve shared below to keep yourself feeling happy and healthy this holiday season and into the New Year.
1. Whether you are the host of the Christmas meal or simply a guest, try to keep yourself focused on fun traditions and activities instead of dinner and dessert.
2. Stay away from gravy or use it sparingly on your meat or vegges. Using less sauce or gravy on your foods should lead to a much healthier meal.
3. Don’t underestimate the impact of a healthy breakfast. A good breakfast can keep you from feeling hungry later in the day and increase the likelihood that you will staty away from the less-than-healthy Christmas treats.
4. Stay away from holiday stress by having a plan for events. Stress makes you feel anxious and irritable, and even has a negative impact on your immune system. Decide before hand what you plan tp eat, what time you are expecting to leave and stay out of family squabbles or omments that can lead to conflict.
5. Plan fun family activities that get you moving. Sledding, ice skating or skiing are great fitness-friendly options that everyone can enjoy.
6. If you plan to travel using public transportation, bring along some sanitary wipes and wipe down surfaces in your area. Make sure you clean the armrests, tray table, seat belt buckle or anything else you might touch during your trip.
7. Keep yourself active, even if you’re travelling. If you have to wait for your flight to be ready to board, walk around the airport terminal rather than sitting to wait. Find a flight of stairs and go up and down a few times. Remeber to strech your legs, neck and shoulder to release tension that can build up.
8. Chew some gum after eating to help resist the urge to head straight for the treat table.
9. If you’ll be staying in a hotel then try to find one with a pool or fitness center. This will give you a place to get active in between all the family functions.
10, Drink plenty of water. It’s easy to forget about staying hydrated during a busy holiday season, especially if it gets cold where you live or are visiting.
11. Instead of candy, encourage your family to eat fruits like apples and oranges. They’re a healthier way to satisfy cravings for sweets.
12. If you’re going to be drinking wine or eggnog, make sure you know your limits. A Christmas morning hangover can be devastating, especially if you’re going to be around excited kids who want to open presents. A holidat headache can really put a downer on the holiday vibe.
13. For every alcoholic beverage you drink, try to also drink a glass of water. This will leave you feeling hydrated and hangover free the next morning.
14. Consider using a fitness app on your smartphone to set fitness goals and keep track of how much exercise you get over the holidays.
15. When all is said and done it’s important to remember not to get down on yourself, in the event you “slip up” during the Christmas holiday season. After all, it’s typically the time to spend with family and friends enjoying yourself. We all deaserve a cheat day every once and a while.
You can always get back on track after the holiday is over and ring in the New Year with renewed commitment to your health focused goals. That’s what the new yearis for – right? If it makes you feel better, you can even try to be a bit more health-conscious in January and February. Things usually have a way of evening out!
Inhale. Exhale.
Violet Buddha
Violet Buddha Blog 