Fit Tips For a Healthier Holiday Season

With Thanksgiving only a few weeks away and holiday party season following shortly after, we can all expect to soon be surrounded by lots of stuffing, pies, cookies, cakes, booze and all that other good stuff. It’s easy to get sucked in by sugar, so we have outlined some tips below to help you avoid the temptation and stay the course for a healthier holiday season.

1) Hello Portion Control
To help control your portions, use smaller salad plates instead of dinner plates when visiting the buffet. It will make you feel like you are having more to eat.

2) Three Meals A Day=A Must
The holiday season is a busy time between shopping, entertaining and attending events. It is more important than ever to eat regular meals. If you skip breakfast or lunch, you are more likely to binge when faced with the opportunity. Those cookies in the office kitchen start to look better and better.

3) Easy Partner
Go easy on the alcohol. If you must drink, dilute the liquor with seltzer and ice. It’s also a good idea to alternate between alcohol and water to stay hydrated.

4) Control Your Hunger
Try to eat a small, healthy meal before going to a party to help keep your hunger at bay. It will help avoid ravenous behavior when the passed hors d’oeuvres arrive.

5) Savor the flavor
Eat slowly and really enjoy your food. When we eat too fast we often eat past the point of being full which means extra calories and a bulging waste line… eek!

6) It’s okay to splurge…. A little
Don’t rob yourself of your holiday favorites, just don’t go overboard either! Choose healthy alternatives whenever possible and remember portion control.

7) Move it
If you’re too busy to make it to the gym try this easy at home workout: 3 sets of 15 repetitions of push-ups, crunches and lunges. Also working out in the morning will help get it out of the way and also help boost your metabolism.

8) Give your body H20 Love
Make sure you are getting enough fluids. It’s a good idea to drink 6 – 8 glasses of water a day. Remember that beverages containing caffeine or alcohol interfere with hydration. For every cup of coffee, cola, etc. have another glass of water.

9) Keep it Real
Can you really expect to lose eight to ten pounds this month? Don’t set yourself up for failure. Perhaps maintaining your current weight, or not gaining more than 3 pounds in the month of December would be more attainable.

10) Don’t beat yourself up!
If you do eat a little too much don’t waste time making yourself feel guilty. Go for a walk and do better next time!