Your Guide to Staying on Track This Holiday Season!
Dec 27, 2018
It’s the holiday season or in other words the season where your diet essentially goes down the drain. While many fitness enthusiasts advocate eating healthy during the holidays; there’s no harm in indulging! But most of us make it a routine that somehow continues from Thanksgiving through the end of the year. Enjoy the holidays, but don't let it go from a day of indulgence to a month of indulgence that leads to unwanted habits that continue beyond the holiday season.
The holiday season not only affects the waistlines protesting against our pants, but also manages the self-esteem to find an all-new low, and it becomes easy to beat ourselves up about our unhealthy lifestyles (while eating a piece of pie and sipping on a milkshake. We’ve all been there!).
But guess what? The holiday season is almost over! With the New Year around the corner and a few more parties to attend, there is still a fresh opportunity to retake control of your fitness goals!
Follow these simple rules to a healthy holiday season.
1. Set Realistic Goals
It is important to set realistic goals for yourself to get back in shape, especially right after the holiday season. The goal should not be to lose weight instead you should be more focused on maintaining your weight. With so much temptation around, it will definitely become difficult to not drop off the wagon, so it is better to maintain a balanced diet focusing on a healthy lifestyle rather than one that helps in losing weight. Remember, mindful eating goes a long way!
2. Don’t Prep Hungry
If you’re hosting a party, then there is a definite possibility that you might end up starving while preparing for the big dinner. Don’t get carried away; take time to focus on yourself while preparing the meal and eat as you normally would on any other day. This will not only keep you satiated but also help you be in a good and happy mood while doing all the work. Even if you are not the host of the party, there is no need for you to starve yourself to enjoy the holiday meals. Eat as you would on any normal day.
3. Take Small Portions of all the Favorites
Every party that you attend, or throw will have a lavish spread of the holiday season's best dishes. If you wish to try all of them then by all means you should but there's a catch - you have to eat in small portions. By using this strategy, you eat it all without going into a food coma. Smaller portions throughout the day will keep your metabolism running and prevent you from getting so hungry that you overeat at meals or your body goes into starvation mode. A balance is all that is needed and eating in small portions will give you just that. So, savor the small portions.
4. Indulge for a Night, not a Season
It's easy to overindulge when the season of parties and – so many leftovers – is upon us. Avoid allowing 'treats' to become staples by not letting them linger in the house after the celebration has ended. When the party is over, it is time to dump the junk!
5. Take your Time
Don't hog your food. Eat slowly while enjoying your meal. It is imperative that you take about 20 minutes to finish the first serving of food. Then take a few minutes break - give your brain some time to analyze if there is any need for a second serving. Remember to keep some room for dessert.
6. Move Frequently
Most people travel during the holidays. It’s easy to fall on a “lazy mode” when you feel tired due to lack of sleep. Instead of finding excuses to avoid exercise, try other ways of keeping your body active. Walk around the place you’re visiting. Use the stairs instead of taking the elevator. Do something fun that will require movement like playing sports or biking in the park. Or the best option at any party - Dance!
7. Go Vegetarian for One Meal a Day
Research shows that plant-based diets promote health. So, in order to add more variety to your plate and enjoy foods that promote blood sugar control, or can help with lowering cholesterol levels, or reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, you got to eat more veggies. This may mean having a black bean burger instead of a beef patty, topping salads with chickpeas instead of grilled chicken or steak or having a vegetable stir-fry over brown rice with roasted tofu instead of shrimp for dinner. You can check out more info on Vegan-based health & fitness in a case study found here.
So, there you have it – a quick list of things to maintain a healthy and fit body during the holidays. These things are pretty easy to follow, as long as you have enough self-control. You don’t even have to go to the gym or restrain yourself from any food, although those aren’t really bad ideas.
Now, you can start preparing for the next holiday party. If you’re able to apply the tips you’ve learned and keep your body fit and healthy, you’ll no longer feel conflicted about the holidays – and that’s definitely a good thing.
The post Your Guide to Staying on Track This Holiday Season appeared first on NutraKey Health Performance.
