Improved
6112 HealthChanged
3786 LivesSaved
3568 Lives0 lives impacted in the last 24 hrs Learn More
Thanksgiving and Black Friday are over. By now you have probably picked through most of your leftovers and are tired of having pie for breakfast. You relish in your elastic waist pajama bottoms or yoga pants because when you look down…you can’t see your feet. Hmmm…you had feet last week and now they went missing. It’s definitely time to get back on track!
The holidays are not yet over but it’s never too late to do damage repair. We still have to get through company parties, neighborhood parties, school parties, and family events. There are candy canes on the tree, mint flavored chocolates in bowls, and specialty coffee drinks full of whipped topping and sugar available only this time of year. You’re shopping, and baking, and wrapping, and trimming and secretly grateful leggings (with elastic waist bands) are back in style.
Here’s the deal, why can’t you bake AND be healthy? Why can’t you have a whipped coffee drink in moderation? Why can’t you attend an event AND be prepared to make up for it? I think you can!
First, drink lots of water every day! I am still surprised at the number of people who drink maybe 3 or 4 glasses of water per day. Coffee, caffeine and alcohol do not count as water. I need you to be drinking lots and lots in order to flush out all that fat and sugar while maintaining your hydration. Drink at least half your body weight in ounces. For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, that is 80 ounces of water you need. 80 ounces (assuming your drinking cup is 8 ounces) is equal to 10 cups of water per day!
Second, move your backside vigorously. Shopping does burn calories but it does not count towards your exercise. You need to get your heart pumping and your body sweating. My absolute favorite is interval training and I follow such sites as: www.bodyrock.tv, www.jillfit.com, and www.metaboliceffect.com. (no affiliation to these sites). Please do not be intimidated by the pictures. Many workouts can be done in the privacy of your own home and require little more than a timer and your bodyweight.
Third, limit your carbs and if you’re going to eat them, opt for whole grain such as brown rice, quinoa, or sweet potatoes. Whip up an egg scramble in the morning with one piece of gluten free bread. Try a vegetable chicken soup for lunch with a side salad (no crackers or bread). Snack on celery pieces with some almond butter. For dinner have a stir fry with lean hormone free beef or chicken, lots of vegetables and only ½ cup of brown rice.
Fourth, opt for low calorie, low sugar alcoholic beverages like red wine. Skip the holiday drinks (although they sound divine!), heavy calorie beers, and those mixed with soda. In between drinks try carbonated water with a slice of lime or lemon over ice to keep you hydrated. Pop some berries in it for flavor.
Fifth, remember to get at least 7 hours of good quality sleep or more to help with weight loss. If you’re up late prepping, packing, wrapping, or partying then up early to start your day your sleep will suffer and this translates into weight gain (and poor looking skin!). To help yourself, wind down with a cup of sleepy tea, turn off the computer, and take some calcium/magnesium at night which help with muscle relaxation. Take a warm shower or bath, read a book, or put on relaxing music.
Really the holidays are about planning ahead and not skipping out on your healthy habits because you are too busy or too lazy. If you know dinner is going to be a deliciously naughty pot-luck, then eat a big salad for lunch (skip the cheese and high-calorie dressings). Set your alarm a tiny bit earlier and get a 15 minute interval workout done by 6:30am so you’re ready for the day. Buy a water bottle (treat yourself this season) and make sure you drink at least 8 ounces of it every hour.
Add a CommentComments
There are no comments yet. Be the first one and get the conversation started!