peanutbuttarunna:

The holidays are a fun and festive time. We like to let loose, enjoy ourselves, and have a good laugh with family and friends along with heaps of delicious food. However, things can also become slightly stressful with all of the hustle and bustle going on and we have to remember to take care of our health in the process. Some tips to keep that holiday balance:

1. Have healthy meal before a holiday gathering. Eating throughout the day will keep your balance in your diet, keep you from becoming ravenously hungry and eating everything in sight at the party, and keep your energy high.
2. Try healthy winter recipes. There are so many healthy dishes that you can experiment with. Hearty stews, seasonal vegetables, fresh fruit…go check out some healthy cooking blogs for inspiration! You can even bring a healthy dish to any party that you attend, giving yourself and other guests a bit more variety.
3. Keep your balance. Remember to fill your plate with vegetables, salad, proteins and other nourishing food as well as your delicious mashed potatoes, pies, sweets, and other such things. Balance is key.
4. Savour every bite and truly enjoy. There is absolutely no reason to deprive yourself during the holidays, yet you don’t want to just shovel an entire plate of gingerbread cookies just because. Eat slowly, mindfully, and truly enjoy your cookie (or whatever else you may be eating).
5. Focus on the seasonal goodies. It may be tempted to have loads of chips and dip and snack food, but you can have those any old time of year. Eat your grandma’s special sugar cookies, peppermint bark, your family mashed potato recipe, gingerbread, candy canes and all of the delicious holiday food.
6. Stay active. The holidays are a busy, hectic time and we may not be able to fit in our usual workout routine. Try to fit in exercise that can be done in jeans, not spandex. Go for walks to catch up with relatives, take the stairs when doing your holiday shopping, dance to your favorite holiday songs, fit in short HIIT workouts when you can…it will all add up!
7. Manage your stress. In the hustle and bustle we can forget about taking care of ourselves. The holidays are wonderful but with the rush surrounding shopping, cooking, and gatherings, you may need a mental health break. Get some exercise, meditate, do some yoga, or even just take a relaxing bath. You and your mental health are so important.
8. Enjoy yourself. Please do not get worked up about counting calories, skipping workouts, or holiday weight gain. Forget all of that madness and remember what is truly important, celebrating all of your blessings with your friends and family. Eat an extra slice of pecan pie just because you love it, have a warm cup of cocoa by the fire, and just be generally cheery. Never let the fear of gaining weight get in the way of living your life. Weight can be lost; memories and special times will stay with you.