This week has been such a whirlwind it is hard for me to believe it is Friday already.
This morning I spent another hour or so at Starbucks getting some work done.
The past two days have been a whirlwind, but we made it! Only one interview stands in between us and a relaxing weekend with family and friends.
I have been so blessed this year to be able to see my family much more than usual. Due to our travels and trying to get back down close to North Carolina next year, it enables up to pop in and see our family.
In honor of the holiday season coming up and fun times with my family I thought I would focus this Five Things Friday on a few tips to stick to your healthy lifestyle during the holidays.
Five Ways to Stay on Track During the Holidays
I love the holidays and over the years I have picked up a few tricks to staying on track and staying healthy.
1. Moderation
First off and most importantly the key to any healthy diet is moderation. Indugle a little, enjoy the holidays, but just do so in moderation.
This was me enjoying the holiday family time acting half my age last Christmas.
Treating yourself here and there is not going to kill your diet or make you gain 10 lbs. Consistency is key like with anything, so go easy on yourself and let yourself enjoy the holiday treats! It only happens once a year, right?
2. Don’t Skip Your Workout
While the holidays mean a lot of parties and family time, it doesn’t mean that you should just skip over your workout.
There are plenty of easy and simple workouts you can get in without spending an hour or two at the gym. Try to get something in every day, even if it is quick and simple.
The holidays are not the time to start slacking on your workouts. I think one of the biggest mistakes people make is saying “I will start fresh in the near year.” Don’t set yourself up for failure – focus on it one day at a time and don’t make it optional. (Don’t take this as – “don’t listen to your body.” If you need a rest day take it, I am just trying to say to focus on making your workout just a part of your day and not a chore and it will make it much easier to stay on track.)
3. Eat Several Smaller Meals instead of Saving it all for a Bigger Meal
I have found that if I eat 4-5 smaller meals throughout the day instead of saving it all for one big meal, I eat less.
You don’t want to go into a huge meal on Thanksgiving or Christmas completely starving. This will only cause you to eat more and most likely over eat.
Make sure you start the morning with a healthy breakfast and even a snack before your big meal. This will help you to avoid over eating and feeling miserable.
4. Slow Down
One of the biggest mistakes we all make at the table is eating too fast. You can ask my husband I am VERY guilty of this.
If you eat fast your body hasn’t had the time to tell yourself when you are full. It often takes 15 minutes for your body to start registering that you have had enough.
Slow down and enjoy the food. This is another way to avoid over eating and it will allow you to enjoy it a bit more.
Funny random thing – as I type this post I am wearing this same outfit.
Focus on being “in the moment” during the holidays. I think this helps us all enjoy the holidays much more, because of course there is much more to the holidays than food.
5. Offer to Prepare a Healthy Dish
If you are not the one preparing the meal for the holiday, offer to bring a healthier dish.
I usually don’t do the preparing so I try to offer to bring something healthier than I know what is in it. It helps me feel like I am contributing and who knows, maybe it will be a big hit at the dinner table!
Again, the key to any healthy lifestyle is moderation. Treat yourself but don’t go over board. Make good decisions and don’t throw all of your healthy choices out the window just because its the holidays.
Most importantly, enjoy the time with family and friends!
What do you do to stay healthy during the holidays?
I think #3 and #4 are connected in many ways – if you eat a holiday dinner at 4PM and haven’t eaten since breakfast, you will consume 3 pounds of food in 30 seconds and spend the day wanting to die and weep when someone mentions all of the pies being served a few hours later …
So definitely snack on healthy stuff to stay slightly full – and another important thing is to drink plenty of water. With a house full it is easy to lose your cup, not feel comfortable constantly drinking, but it has been shown again and again that drinking more water results in less weight gain (because you’re not so hungry.
And for bringing something healthy, that is a great idea – and to make it seem less like ‘oh, they are bringing something HEALTHY’ try something a bit different from a magazine like Vegetarian Times or Cooking Light or something … by making it different rather than a ‘replacement’ it won’t insult anyone but can help you fill up with healthy calories.
Very good reminders…..yes, Moderation is KEY!! Dang~ and bummer~ that is where I need the most work!!
It is one I think we all have to work on!! 🙂
I do HIIT during the holidays. It allows me to get my heart rate up quickly that way I maximize my time and burn calories. I also focus on body weight exercises so I don’t have to worry about equipment, getting to a gym, etc. Gotta make it as easy as possible!!
Thanks for the great tips!
HIIT is such a great holiday workout! I agree!! You get the most “bang for your buck” so to say! That is definitely something I incorporate into my holiday workout routines!
slow down!!!! I swear that is one of the best tips ever for enjoying food and not over doing it!
Yes it is the one I probably have to remind myself the most 🙂
Moderation for EVERYTHING during the holidays! That’s the only thing that keeps me from being overly stressed by the time it’s all over.
Agreed! Moderation is key during the holidays and any time! we shouldn’t go crazy but also shouldn’t limit either – you will just go crazy!!
Thanks for all the great tips, Sara! I know, as someone who still struggles a bit with body image, I’m a bit fearful of heading into the holiday season. But I know that it really comes down to moderation and working out. And even if you do happen to gain a few pounds (like most people around the holiday season) it’s always good to know that even if working out doesn’t make you lose it right away, it keeps your body healthy and boosts your confidence. That always helps me! I’m definitely looking forward for school to end and the family time to begin, just gotta keep my eating habits in check. 😉
I know how it is to struggle with body image! I am the same way and that is one reason that I always try to go into the holiday season with a plan!
The keys to the holiday are simple: keep working out, moderation, and slow down. Those are least what are most important for me to work out and if I do that then I seem to do OK. Exactly like you said if I do gain a few lbs it is not the end of the world, but I try to do the best I can!
The best part of the holidays is spending time and being with family 🙂
Hope you have a great holiday Emily!!
These are great reminders! Thanks for sharing!
Thank YOU for reading Casey 🙂
Great tips!
I try to remind myself that there is a difference between a little bit of indulgence and stuffing my face “just because it’s the holidays.” There are certain things I can “treat” myself to year round, and then there are things I only get once a year (mom’s stuffed mushrooms at Thanksgiving, for example). I’ll treat myself to those once a year things without any guilt.
Moderation is definitely key! I do a LOT of holiday baking, and letting myself have one cookie from a batch keeps me from feeling really deprived and eating them all.
Completely agree! I used to use holidays as an excuse to eat whatever I want and you just can’t do that! It’s okay to indulge some, but moderation is still necessary!
Holiday baking is the best! I agree with letting yourself have one – it lets you indulge but doesn’t go out of control! Making yourself not have any just ends up making things worse!
These are great tips, and make me suuuuper excited for the holiday season!! I really like eating smaller meals or a snack before the big meal as you mention. It’s counterintuitive but really helps me eat until I’m full (but not too full) and not over-do it. I also like bringing a healthy dish since I love to cook! I’m the best at eating slowly – I’m soooo slow, which frustrates some people, but it’s a good thing!
Would love to know some of your healthy dishes for Thanksgiving! I am looking for some new ideas!
I am the opposite – I eat WAY too fast and everyone has to tell me to slow down 🙂
Great tips for staying fit through the holidays! I definitely need to remember to eat smaller meals more often especially when it comes to Thanksgiving and Christmas. We always tend to save it all for that one huge meal and it’s just too much. 🙂 Moderation is key for sure.
Thank you Shelley! Holidays are always hard but moderation will help! 🙂