Top Tips for a Healthy Holiday Season

Between the parties and gatherings, shopping, cooking, and baking, the holidays can be really overwhelming. Through all the hustle and bustle, we often push our self-care and healthy routines to the side and run on adrenaline. It doesn’t have to be that way! There are simple things you can do each and every day to keep yourself healthy, happy, and in control during the holiday season. Here are some things you can do to stay on track during the holidays.

Exercise Daily, Even When its Cold

Not only does exercise prevent weight gain, it improves circulation, boosts your mood, and aids your digestion. A simple 30 minute daily walk and a brisk pace can do your body wonders. Add in some resistance training and a few stretching sessions each week and your body will feel like a million bucks. Top Tips:

• Bundle up for a brisk walk and catch up with friends and family during holiday visits
• Come to a fitness class at our office. You can find the class schedule here.

Consider Making Homemade Gifts

Making home made gifts may be less stressful on the mind and budget.  Give the gift of healthy             treats, or homemade products. Top Tips

• Homemade Bath Salts or Sugar Scrubs made with your favorite essential oils
• A picture frame with your favorite photo
• A gift basket with recipe items and a recipe card for your favorite healthy meal

Drink Lots of Water

Start every morning off with a cup of hot water and juice from a lemon. This will help ramp up your digestion and cleanse your body. During the holidays it is so important to keep those good habits going! Reminder: your brain can mistake thirst for hunger, and it can tend to be drier during the winter months.  Make a conscious effort to drink more water when it’s cold outside. Top Tips

• Carry water with you everywhere. There are some beautiful glass travel bottles that make quite the fashion statement
• Drink your water out of a wine glass, its fun and fancy
• Add a slice of cucumber or drop in some berries to change up the flavor

Eat Clean, When You are in Control

Don’t try to be perfect. The holidays are the holidays.  Remember the goal is not to get through the next few weeks, never having a glass of wine or a Christmas cookie. Holidays are to be celebrated and food and drink (in my opinion) are a part of that celebration. If your goal is to keep your diet 100% clean throughout the holidays, it’s very unlikely that you are going to achieve that goal which then creates those awful feelings of failure and guilt and shame, leaving us in a negative emotional space.   Remember, it’s difficult to take positive action from negative emotions, so don’t even attempt to begin this season trying to be perfect. There are going to be a lot of things that are out of our control but the one thing you can control is what happens in your house. Keep your non-celebratory moments extra clean. Lots of kale salad and veggie soups will be happening in my house during the holidays Top tips for holiday parties

• Do not go to a party on an empty stomach or you will be chasing the hors d’oeuvres tray. Have a snack with fiber and protein, which is filling and a good energy booster. Examples: Humus and veggies, Banana and PB, Smoothie, Nuts, Cheese and apple, guacamole and non GMO corn chips
• Eat the best-for-you offerings. Go for the vegetable tray first.  If you know your host typically doesn’t put out vegetables, offer to bring an appetizer and choose something healthy that you can eat.
• Stand at least and arms length away so you’re not tempted to indulge

Remember Your Supplements Every Day

Make sure to take your supplements throughout the holidays so you can feel your best and keep your immune system in tip-top shape!

• Open the bottles, keep some in your kitchen, some by your desk and some by your night stand for full compliance
• Jim Rohn said, “The easiest thing to do is the easiest thing not to do.” Taking your supplements is one of the easiest things you can do for your health.
• Ask about our new supplement kits if you would like to know which ones we love

Get Your Rest

Although it may be tough some days with your hectic holiday schedule, it is important to stick to your regular health routine as much as possible to keep your stress levels down. Top Tips

• Remember this: good mornings start with good nights. Turn the lights down and technology off at least an hour before bedtime; your brain will receive the message that it’s time to slow down and head for sleep.
• Diffuse your favorite nighttime essential oils.
• Drink a large warm mug of your favorite herbal tea an hour before bedtime to warm your body. Try not to drink a lot in that last hour before you turn in to prevent bathroom visits disrupting your sleep.
• Diffuse some lavender oil to help you relax
• 8oz of tart cherry juice, 90 minutes before bed helps naturally increase melatonin

Party on! {The healthy way.}

The holiday season is filled with family get-togethers, parties and fun obligations galore. Spending time with the people you love is an important part of the holiday season, no need to miss out on those fun times.