It’s hard to believe, but Christmas is just around the corner and we all know the holiday season comes endless parties, time spent with loved ones, and of course, loads of delicious and indulgent food.
We aren’t here to tell you that you shouldn't indulge once in a while; but with those holiday events cluttering up your December calendar, you might find yourself enjoying some unhealthy treats a little too often.
The last thing you want to deal with during the holiday season is a run down immune system, bloating, and nasty breakouts - the result of those (delicious) sugar cookies! You may not know how to fight against those indefinite holiday-season cravings...that's where we come in!
We have put together a simple, yet highly-effective, guide of our five easiest tricks to staying healthy and feeling good this holiday season!
Drink Up
Put down that extra glass of champagne, we are talking about water! Water is going to be your best friend this holiday season by helping to keep you full and by flushing excess toxins out of your system.
Be sure to drink a glass of water before heading to your next social gathering, as it will prevent you from overindulging. Also, drink a glass of water alongside every glass of alcohol you have to prevent dehydration as well as a potential hangover. You’ll thank us in the morning!
Be Mindful Of Your Snacks
Choosing healthy snacks over the unhealthy alternatives is the obvious choice to staying healthy, but what do you do when there are pecan glazed pies and apple strudels at every turn?
If your holidays are filled with as much sweet desserts as ours are, then allow yourself to enjoy a small slice or two - just be mindful of the serving size. Don’t eat with your eyes, just enjoy small portions along with your water to fill you up faster.
Munch on a handful of raw, unsalted nuts before the party so that you aren’t starving upon arrival. That way, you're much less likely to pile your plate with sugar and dairy. Even better, if you have the time, offer to bring a snack or two of your own; and opt for healthy choices such as nuts, fruit or this delicious healthy and fun spin on a traditional pumpkin pie!
Get Moving
To stay sane during this busy time, we highly recommend taking time out for yourself every single day.
You may say you don’t have the time, but you can simply wake up a few minutes earlier in the morning. By getting that morning sweat in, you help to rev up your metabolism so that your body can burn calories all day long. Not to mention all those wonderful endorphins that are released!
Yoga is a wonderful choice to get your blood flowing while focusing on your breathing to help calm a busy mind.
Wait Before Getting Up For Seconds
After a delicious and comforting holiday meal, it may be super tempting to immediately reach for seconds, but then you'll probably experience that feeling of being too full. You head to the couch to relax, but your food ends up sitting in your stomach and can’t properly digest, which then results in a sore stomach.
It takes just 20 minutes for your body to release those chemicals indicating whether or not you have eaten enough. So, if after 20 minutes you still feel hungry then allow yourself a small serving of seconds.
Enjoy A Cup Of Tea With Your Meal
Drinking cold drinks with a meal can interfere with digestion. Warm liquids, however, are very beneficial to enjoy alongside a heavy meal as they help with digestion; which is very important during the holiday season.
Our favorite warm beverages are ginger, lemon, dandelion and peppermint tea to keep everything functioning as it should, as well as to soothe an upset tummy.
We hope these tips help you to go out and enjoy your planned festivities! Feel free to share any additional tips with us in the comments!