Happy Holiday Season! Thanksgiving ended and I feel like the holiday events ramped up in a hurry! All good things of course, but it seems like we have something almost every night of the week leading up to Christmas. This seems to be the case for so many of you, too!
This past year I’ve really put a lot of focus and energy into taking care of my body. I’ve paid more attention to what nutrition I’m putting into my body, I’ve tried to listen to my body better when being physically active, and I’ve tried to focus more on self-care. It feels like a full-time job sometimes! But, I will say that I feel better now than I have in years.
As the holidays approached, I made a conscious decision to focus on staying healthy through the holidays. I heard somewhere that the average person gains 7-12 lbs from Thanksgiving to New Years. Crazy, right? But, believable too. I mean I typically get so overwhelmed and excited about all the fun holiday events that I just say screw it and eat and drink whatever I want to. I also seem to stop working out during the holidays too. Not the best combo.
I really wanted this year to be different though. I wanted to enjoy every single holiday event and tradition while also honoring my health goals. I wanted to be fully in each moment and leave the holiday season feeling happy and healthy.
SO, I got my accountability partner (aka my husband) on board, and we made some rules around how the holidays would look. The first thing we did was decide to stick to our nutrition program. I did this nutrition program April – May of 2021 and it was a game changer. I got a little off track in the fall, so I’ve recommitted again so I can feel my best. We’ve also adapted a couple tips for staying healthy this holiday season.
So, if you’re in the same boat, I’ve included our tips for staying healthy through the holidays below. I hope they’ll help you out! And, if you’re curious about the nutrition program, feel free to email me at hello@fleurdille.com to learn more!
Tips For Staying Healthy Through The Holidays:
- Get good sleep. Staying consistent with your sleep will make a big difference for your health and energy level. When you can control it, go to be in a timely manner.
- Drink a lot of water. Make sure you are drinking lots of water. This will keep you hydrated and keep you from reaching for a cookie. Aim to drink half of your body weight in water. Personally, I’m aiming for more than half – about 90 oz (in a total effort to avoid Christmas treats).
- Limit indulging to special occasions. Whether it’s food, sweet treats or alcohol, limit it to special occasions.
- Move your body daily. Even if your busier-than-usual schedule doesn’t lend a lot of extra time, make time to move a little. If you can’t fit out your normal workout routine, opt for a quick walk. Or, park your car a little further from the store to get some extra steps in.
- Limit alcohol intake. Alcohol is typically what messes me up and maybe you, too! Drinking seems to have a domino affect on my health. If I drink then I usually make poor eating choices, have more distruptive sleep, workout less because I’m tired, and become more dehydrated. It’s a downward spiral. So, try limiting your alcohol consumption to just your holiday occasions and events.
- Eat slower during meals. This is an age old trick, but you’re more likely to eat less if you eat slower.
- Try a new (healthy) recipe. If you love being in the kitchen but are trying to control what you’re eating, try making a new recipe with slightly healthier ingredients!
Healthy Party Tricks:
- Sip, Sip, Sip. Instead of consuming multiple drinks, slowly nurse one beverage throughout the night.
- Make it a mocktail. Opt for a mocktail over a cocktail. This way you still have something in your hand to sip on, but you’re cutting out the alcohol.
- Eat before you go out. One of the oldest tricks in the book is to eat before your holiday event. This will keep you from or lessen the grazing when you get there.
- Taste everything once. Rather than avoiding food completely, taste a little of everything. This let’s you enjoy the flavors of the holiday without over indulging.
- Bring your own food. This doesn’t always work out, but if you’re required to bring an appetizer or dish to the party, opt for something healthier.
- Keep healthy snacks with you. To keep you from being in a situation you don’t want to be in, keep some healthy snacks with you. This will give you some healthier options to choose from.
