The Most Wonderful Time of Year
It's that time of year again - the snow is sticking to the ground, the days get colder, and we spend more time searching out the comfort of good food, good friends and good time with family.
It's also the time of year when an overabundance of delicious snacks, desserts and meals make their way into our lives. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or nothing at all, somehow this time of year is a "tough one" for overindulging from the 1st of December, straight through into the New Year.
And despite how enjoyable it is to indulge, it isn't so great for our waistlines! Not to mention those of us who spend as much of the year as we can making healthy choices so that we can enjoy vibrant health, high energy and a trim waist.
In this post I put together my top 6 tips for finding balance this holiday season.
It's also the time of year when an overabundance of delicious snacks, desserts and meals make their way into our lives. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or nothing at all, somehow this time of year is a "tough one" for overindulging from the 1st of December, straight through into the New Year.
And despite how enjoyable it is to indulge, it isn't so great for our waistlines! Not to mention those of us who spend as much of the year as we can making healthy choices so that we can enjoy vibrant health, high energy and a trim waist.
In this post I put together my top 6 tips for finding balance this holiday season.
1. Enjoy the Moment
The holidays don't have to always revolve around food.
Find joy in visiting with friends and family, savour the special traditions, plan some fun physical activities together during the holidays.
Take time to slow down, look around, soak up the moments. This can also relate to how you enjoy meals. Click here to read one of my past blog posts all about mindful eating, and how slowing down can help you keep the extra weight off.
Enjoy this fun, festive time of year, and savour every moment of it!
Find joy in visiting with friends and family, savour the special traditions, plan some fun physical activities together during the holidays.
Take time to slow down, look around, soak up the moments. This can also relate to how you enjoy meals. Click here to read one of my past blog posts all about mindful eating, and how slowing down can help you keep the extra weight off.
Enjoy this fun, festive time of year, and savour every moment of it!
2. Be Realistic
This is a really important thing to remember: Plan to have a few small indulgences over the holidays as it is unrealistic to think you will be perfect!
The more you try to completely deprived yourself the more likely you are to cave in and binge on grandma’s favourite Christmas baking (my personal weakness).
Plan your little treats at a few of the meals - just not all of the meals over the holidays.
The more you try to completely deprived yourself the more likely you are to cave in and binge on grandma’s favourite Christmas baking (my personal weakness).
Plan your little treats at a few of the meals - just not all of the meals over the holidays.
3. Don't Skip Meals
This is one of my personal favourite tips: Instead of showing up to the party starving - arrive half full!
Be sure to eat your healthy meals and snacks during the day, focusing on fruits, veggies, lean protein and a small amount of whole grains.
If you follow your regular eating plan, you will be set up for success when you arrive at the party buffet. We want to be able to enjoy all the special foods around this time of year - we just don't want to go overboard by over-filling ourselves with multiple servings.
Be sure to eat your healthy meals and snacks during the day, focusing on fruits, veggies, lean protein and a small amount of whole grains.
If you follow your regular eating plan, you will be set up for success when you arrive at the party buffet. We want to be able to enjoy all the special foods around this time of year - we just don't want to go overboard by over-filling ourselves with multiple servings.
4. Bring Something Healthy
This year, with my parents and brothers and sisters we will have over 30 people for a Christmas meal! (See below for last year's family pic) I'm already starting to meal plan for lots of wholesome and delicious items on the menu.
Even if you aren't hosting, offer to help out the host by bringing a dish - appetizer, side dish or healthy dessert. This way you can be sure there will be at least one item you can eat guilt free.
I've got a ton of healthy recipe ideas saved over on my Facebook Page. Each and every day I post recipes that follow the guidelines of my Simple Swaps Program, and I know you'll find some that you'll love.
Even if you aren't hosting, offer to help out the host by bringing a dish - appetizer, side dish or healthy dessert. This way you can be sure there will be at least one item you can eat guilt free.
I've got a ton of healthy recipe ideas saved over on my Facebook Page. Each and every day I post recipes that follow the guidelines of my Simple Swaps Program, and I know you'll find some that you'll love.
5. Get in Some A.M. Physical Activity
Your days and nights will be super busy so make time for a quick workout or walk in the morning before you hit the ground running.
Choose a 20 minute interval training to get maximum benefit in the least amount of time.
On days that are too busy even for that, plan some fun physical activities over the holidays - take over the neighbourhood outdoor rink for a family game of hockey, book a local gym for floor hockey or volleyball, head to the trampoline park, take a family hike, go tobogganing, skiing or snowboarding - the ideas are endless!
Choose a 20 minute interval training to get maximum benefit in the least amount of time.
On days that are too busy even for that, plan some fun physical activities over the holidays - take over the neighbourhood outdoor rink for a family game of hockey, book a local gym for floor hockey or volleyball, head to the trampoline park, take a family hike, go tobogganing, skiing or snowboarding - the ideas are endless!
6. Get Your Sleep
Getting less than 7-8 hours can have an adverse effect in many ways: Increases cortisol, which pushes up blood sugar, increases ghrelin - the hunger hormone which increases our appetite and craving for sweet and salty.
Lack of sleep leaves our energy low so we are less apt to get our physical activity in for the day.
It's not always easy this time of year, but it's really important to make sleep a priority. Start by telling your direct family that you're committing to getting 7-8 hours of sleep, which will mean planning your day around that. When you verbalize your goals, you'll be surprised by how the people closest to you help you to reach them. And everyone benefits from getting a good night's sleep!
Lack of sleep leaves our energy low so we are less apt to get our physical activity in for the day.
It's not always easy this time of year, but it's really important to make sleep a priority. Start by telling your direct family that you're committing to getting 7-8 hours of sleep, which will mean planning your day around that. When you verbalize your goals, you'll be surprised by how the people closest to you help you to reach them. And everyone benefits from getting a good night's sleep!
Healthy Habits - All Year Long!
| If you're ready for the new year to be your healthiest one yet - register now for my Simple Swaps to Slim Down Fat Loss Program! I want you to reach your ideal body size, and feel so amazing, confident and better than ever! You'll get the tools, tips and techniques you need to conquer cravings, balance your hormones, and get your body back into fat-burning mode. Click here for program details. Make this year the year you invest in your health. |  |