The holiday season is right around the corner and before you know it, the festivities will be in full swing. With the holidays, comes lots of FOOD - you're more likely to be surrounded by way more food and alcohol this time of year. This can make it easy to lose focus of your fitness goals and nutrition plan. Here are some tips to help you enjoy the holiday season guilt-free!
1: Balance it out! Everything in moderation. Turkey is a great source of protein, but don’t forget to add a healthy portion of vegetables to your plate! Reach for the veggie platter rather than the chips. Decide on one "unhealthy" food type you'll allow yourself, and enjoy it!
2: Plan ahead. If going to a holiday dinner, plan your breakfast and lunch to ensure you arrive satisfied and not starving when you arrive. And make sure both breakfast and lunch are on the healthier side. You’re much more likely to overeat if you arrive feeling hungry. Fill up with fiber-rich foods for breakfast and make sure your lunch has plenty of protein. Offer to bring something to the dinner so you know there will be at least one healthy option. And allow yourself to indulge in a treat at the party - again, everything in moderation. Plus you'll feel less guilty about it if you know your breakfast and lunch were well balanced.
3: If you’re keeping an eye on your calories, you may want to rethink your drinks, particularly since alcohol offers very little nutritional value. It can be challenging to avoid alcohol at social gatherings, so give yourself some leeway to enjoy a couple of drinks. Or try a mocktail! And keep a glass of water nearby to stay well-hydrated.
4: Healthy body, healthy mind. It’s important to find enough time for your own well-being. Prioritizing self-care can help you keep a straight head on with all the craziness that comes with the holiday season. Self-care doesn’t have to be overly indulgent. Healthy habits like getting enough sleep, keeping active, eating well, and finding a few moments alone to breathe or meditate all count. These habits are FREE and go a long way to managing the chaos of the season—plus they'll help you build better habits heading into the New Year!
5. Lastly, don't beat yourself up if you fall off the wagon. Fitness and health are a journey...that never ends! You are allowed to indulge from time to time. Don't use the "all-or-nothing" approach. Just because you indulged, does not mean your whole week, or month is ruined. Make sure to stick to your workout routine as much as you can, and stay on track of your nutrition goals as much as possible throughout the season. You got this 💪
