The Holidays have officially begun! This is always a tough time of year when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Manatee and I have struggled with it in the past. This year, we started the season really well. We kept up with our P90x regime (easier than we thought!) and managed to eat fairly healthy.
I thought I would use this post to share with you some of the tips we have developed over the years and I would also love to hear from you to hear about your strategies.
Healthy Holiday Tips
Keep healthy snacks at hand. I brought a double batch of our Buffalo Hummus to my parents’ house. In three days, six people ate four bags of celery. You can kind of expect that from Manatee and me, but my parents and my nephews were also gobbling it up!
You can’t always control meals, but you can control snacks. It’s easy to whip together and I just made sure we always had celery cut, washed, and ready to go. The protein in the hummus kept hunger pangs at bay while we waited for the turkey.
If it’s possible, bring your own sides to holiday meals. I threw together a spinach salad (spinach + craisins + roasted almonds + blue cheese + best salad dressing ever). Manatee and I filled half of our plates with salad at the Thanksgiving dinner. We still ate some stuffing and green beans but there was less real estate for the fattier dishes.
We also brought our microwave veggie steamer and steamed some broccolini.
On that note, when you bring your own sides, make it as convenient as possible for your host. Don’t take over his or her kitchen. That will just annoy people. Make it easy for them and they will appreciate your effort.
Yes, we brought salad and steamed veggies, but we’re not perfect. I love pumpkin pie and I am not ready to give it up. Luckily, I found a Weight Watchers version that was healthier than most versions, so seek out healthy recipes of your favorite dishes.
And when you can’t find healthy recipes, prioritize your indulgences. I love wine. I am not going to not drink over the holidays. But if I drank wine at every party AND ate a bunch of fried appetizers AND ate Christmas cookies, I would gain weight. No doubt in my mind because it’s happened before. So I pick and choose what means the most, then when I have it, I can really enjoy it.
Keep healthy snacks in the car. Manatee and I both keep beef or buffalo jerky in our glove compartments at all times. Protein is a great snack and keeps us out of drive-thrus when we are running errands. For long car trips, we pack apples, baby carrots, and pitas with hummus. Make it convenient to eat healthy at all times so you don’t resort to unhealthy convenient foods.
Our last tip is probably the most important one: don’t abandon your fitness regime. I know this is a CRAZY time. Trust me. I know. I am running on little sleep and holiday highs during December. Remember that 20 minutes of exercise is better than no minutes of exercise. You can’t get the whole workout in, then do half the workout. I normally run two miles three times a week, but in December I will be happy running one mile if it comes between running two miles or not running at all. If I can’t do the full hour and a half of P90x yoga, then I will do half of it.
Or when the whole workout seems daunting (has anyone else done P90x yoga??), it’s easier to tell yourself that you will just do half of it. A lot of times, once you start, you will want to keep going. And if not, then at least you did something that day.
Don’t think of working out as something you have to do, think of it as a block of time that is just for you. If you think of it as a treat for yourself, you are more likely to do it. I know the snooze button is tempting, but what will feel better later in the day: that thirty minutes of sleep or getting up and getting your workout in before the start of the day? Even if I get that extra thirty minutes, I know I am still crabby.
Throughout December, I will try to feature some of my favorite healthy holiday treats and mini meals that will keep you fueled throughout the day. But don’t worry, in those recipes, you will find some indulgent treats that are worth working out for. A rich macaroni cheese that is healthier than you think, a ‘clean’ version of pumpkin and chocolate cake that will satisfy any sweet tooth. That’s why we do it right? So we can splurge once in awhile?
What are your tips for staying in shape over the holidays?
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