Holiday Survival Guide

Tips for how to stay healthy & maintain or even lose weight during the holiday season:

1. Water, water, and more water

   • Staying properly hydrated is so beneficial-Aim for at least 8 glasses or 64 oz per day

2. Lighten up leading up to the big day

   • There is no reason to waste calories on run of the mill lunches or ordinary weeknight meals

   • If you know your favorite dish that happens to be calorie-dense is being served at the party, create some wiggle room for yourself by eating extra healthy on the days leading up to it

3. Be prepared for parties

   • Eat before you go: Consume healthy and filling foods prior to a big party such as vegetables, lean protein, or a cup of fruit

     • Starving yourself and thinking that you’re creating extra room for the good stuff is the WRONG approach. Why? You’ll be so famished that you’ll end up scarfing down 12 of your Aunt’s famous macaroons when you would have otherwise been satisfied with 1 or 2

   • Share the health: Bring one of your favorite healthy dishes to the party. I’m sure there will be AT LEAST 1 other person thrilled to have a healthier option to fill up on

   • Sample, Sample, Sample: Instead of filling up your plate with heaping helpings, take small sample sizes of each. You will feel included when everyone is raving about how delicious everything is and you won’t feel deprived. If there were 1 or 2 items that you really loved, go back up for small seconds of just those two

     • For pre-portioned foods such as quiche or a slice of cake, ask a friend to split it with you!

   • If you’re full and satisfied… don’t finish everything on your plate just to finish it! ESPECIALLY if you don’t LOVE it. Throw the rest away, no one expects you to eat EVERYTHING on your plate

4. Limit fancy drinks

   • Remember my post a while back about alcohol and how to prevent growing your waistline? If you never read it, go back and read it now…I promise it will be a helpful resource before the holiday parties

   • If you’re like me, I prefer to eat my calories rather than drink them…I tend to save the calories for a really good dessert. That eggnog drink may be delicious… and if that is something you LOVE then don’t deprive yourself, but definitely limit yourself to just one

5. Be sure to get enough sleep

   • Skipping sleep can lead to mood swings, impaired cognitive and motor skills, decreased metabolism, decreased energy levels, and an impaired immune system

6. Avoid skipping meals

   • Fewer meals means fewer calories consumed…right? Maybe not.

     • When you skip a meal your metabolism slows down and your body’s glucose levels drop, leading to brain fog, fatigue, irritability, and increased difficulty burning off the calories that you do consume. How are you supposed to get into the holiday spirit with all of that going on??

   • Instead of skipping meals, eat healthy food throughout the day to keep your energy levels up and to ensure an efficient metabolism

7. Are you the host? Give away leftovers and holiday treats

   • Make up plates to send home with friends and family members or to take to loved ones who could not make it to the gathering

   • Instead of keeping all of the treats for yourself, give them out as gifts or party favors

8. Get moving

   • Ask your family members to go on a fun and festive walk through the snow to take in the winter beauty

   • Don’t like the cold or snow? Try to sneak in an indoor workout prior to the party

   • Be the adult that volunteers to play with the kids…keeping up with them most definitely will burn some extra calories

   • Get up and take a lap around the house every so often- Not only does this keep your body moving, help you get your steps, and keep the blood flowing BUT it also allows you to be more social

   • Are you hosting? Turn up the music and go to town cleaning the house before everyone arrives…that burns more calories than you think!

9. Don’t be afraid to say no

   • This applies to both events and food:

     • When you are more selective about events that end up on your calendar, you have more time to do the things you love and that matter most to you

     • Don’t let family and friends pressure you into trying a dessert or a heavy appetizer that you don’t REALLY want. Save the calories for treats that you cannot live without!

Questions? Contact Plus Forte!

Email: courtney@plusforte.co

Phone: 978-590-6951