6 Tips to Stay Healthy During the Holiday Season
Mama, you’ve worked hard to get your body back. You’ve put in the effort, you’ve noticed the changes and you’ve celebrated that victorious feeling of finally fitting back into your favorite pair of pre-pregnancy jeans.
We know you’ve come a long way and it hasn’t been easy. That’s why, with the holiday season quickly approaching, we want to help you stay on track to enjoy this time of year to the fullest while maintaining the healthy you you’ve worked so hard for.
Here are our top tips to stay healthy and in shape during the holiday season.
Stay Hydrated. Tis’ the season to eat, drink and be merry. With holiday parties and often, holiday cocktails, you may find yourself drinking less water and more alcohol/sugary/high calorie beverages this time of year. Do your body a favor and remember to alternate a glass of water between drinks. Also, keep up with your water intake throughout the day.
Eat Mindfully. If counting calories during the holiday season sounds like a drag, don’t pressure yourself. Instead, choose to remain mindful of what you are eating and how much. To avoid temptation and mindless snacking, choose to mingle away from kitchen or food table. Remember, there’s no harm in treating yourself but there’s also no need to sample each and every appetizer and dessert available.
Find Some Balance. Say you’re attending a holiday get-together in the evening where you know you’ll be indulging more than usual. Take this opportunity to have a healthy breakfast and lunch or, incorporate a smoothie with extra greens into your day to find some balance. You can also try substituting some of the ingredients in your favorite holiday meals with healthy alternatives to lighten the dish. For example, use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream or sweet potatoes instead of regular.
Take Time to De-stress. The holiday season is one of the most joyous - and stressful - times of year. With all of the cooking, socializing, obligations, to-do lists, shopping, wrapping, etc. it’s easy to find yourself stretched thin and stressed out. This makes adding time in for self-care now more important than ever. Whatever helps you unwind, whether that be taking a bubble bath, reading a book, or breaking a sweat, make time for it.
Keep Exercising. Just because it’s the holidays doesn’t mean you need to give up on your workout routine entirely! Even if you’re crazy busy, finding some time to sneak in some fitness will help you stay healthy and on track. Going Christmas shopping? Power walk around the mall. Stuck at the airport? Do some seated leg lifts or take a lap around the terminal. Having a family get-together? Organize a friendly game of football or a group walk. Whatever it may be, just stay active!
Take Preventative Measures. While we all want to feel energized and at our best during the holidays, it can be difficult to avoid getting sick – especially with little ones running around and the current pandemic we are facing as a country. Luckily, there are some preventative measures you can take to stay healthy such as getting enough sleep, frequently washing/sanitizing your hands, practicing social distancing and disinfecting/wiping down your space regularly.
While these tips can help you stay on track, it’s important to remember to give yourself some grace if you do end up indulging a bit during the holidays. Here at FIT4MOM, we are all about health and wellness and helping you become the best version of yourself, so if you do find yourself a little off track, we’re here to meet you wherever you are.
Check out our list of classes available here and don’t forget – your first one’s free so come join us anytime!
We hope your holiday season is filled with love, joy and laughter.