Sweet potato casserole, pumpkin pie, buttery mashed potatoes, mac and cheese and wine galore. Nothing like festive meals during the holidays! Although the typical Thanksgiving/Christmas/Hannukah meal packs a serious calorie punch, you can rest easy knowing that one meal isn’t going to mess up your entire healthy routine. In fact, I’m a huge believer in #balance, and think there are many ways to maintain your healthy routine during the holidays without being “that girl” saying no to dessert. Because “that girl” is no fun, and that just aint you.
Here are the ways we will be keeping our healthy routine during the holidays. Something to note: a healthy routine includes indulging, but getting right back on the bandwagon and limiting over-indulgence.
- Schedule at least one family group workout. Sign everyone up for a spin class. Go on a long walk around the neighborhood. Center yourselves with a good deep stretch class at your local yoga studio. Run in a turkey trot 5k. Whatever you choose, try to get it on the calendar and make it a fun family activity to break a little sweat together.
- Drink tons of water. Bring your water bottle with you everywhere you go. You’ve heard it a million times, but it helps everything from digestions (regularity), energy levels and it also staves off hunger.
- Ensure you’re eating a balanced, nutritious breakfast every single day. This sets you up for success for the whole day. If you can, opt for a savory breakfast like eggs or avocado toast to cut that sweet tooth in its tracks—although I do love a good smoothie bowl or a warm bowl of oats with nut butter. Either way, get the nutrients in as soon as you wake up, or right after your morning workout.
- Fruits and veggies. It’s simple. Eat more fruits and veggies and your immune system will thank you. You’ll stay fuller longer, you’ll feel good, you’ll have more energy and more. We love these supplements to make sure we’re getting those 9-12 servings of raw fruits and veggies in every day.
- Allow yourself a splurge per day. Pick your poison, but don’t go overboard! Perhaps today is your day to enjoy multiple cocktails. Don’t overdo it at the dessert table. Maybe you’d rather splurge in the sugar section. Choose one and you’ll feel better inside and out the next day.
- Drink a protein shake or have healthy snack before a holiday get-together. Whether you chop up an apple to dip in almond butter, blend up a protein shake or snack on hummus and carrots, choose something that nourishes you and tides you over and won’t let your eyes wander at that party. Plan ahead and make the decision to skip the empty calories and limit yourself to a small plate of those tasty treats at the party.
- Chew slowly. Sounds easy enough, right? If you slow it down and take time to chew your food, you’ll be less likely to go for seconds and you’ll actually enjoy the food you’re eating. Mindless eating can wreak serious havoc—and you’ll forget you just inhaled that brownie. Enjoy every bite!
- Take your sleep seriously. Try to get 7-8 hours of sleep per night, and you’ll have more energy to work out the next day. And sleep is good for pretty much every other aspect of life, so get those Zs in.
- Don’t completely ditch your workouts. It’s totally fine to take a break, and by all means, we hope you take a rest day every week at a minimum. But don’t take a complete hiatus from any and all physical activity. You’ll feel worse during the holidays and it’ll be so much harder to hop back to it in January. If you’re not near your favorite studios, get outside and run, walk or bike. Or screenshot a quick tabata workout from Pinterest and #hoptoit.
- Don’t beat yourself up. You went overboard one night? So what. Tomorrow is a new day. Dwelling on the number of calories you consumed in one day is unhealthier than the actual calories consumed. Give yourself some grace and remind your fit self that you’re stronger than that.Meet The Author:
