Staying healthy and lean over the holidays
Grab an extra glass of water and take a seat.
It’s time to talk about how to stay healthy during the holidays.
Yes, it’s the best time of year to see friends and family, to take a moment and be grateful for the year about to end while thinking about the one to come.
But it’s also a very dangerous time for those trying to stay healthy and eat right.
It’s okay! We can get through it together. It just takes a little preparation, a little thinking ahead and a lot of willpower.
Here’s some advice from the experts on how to make it through the holiday season without gaining too much and going too far off course:
Drink plenty of water.
Water not only keeps us hydrated, it keeps us feeling full. It’s also great for skin, keeping it looking healthy when we’re maybe not getting as much sleep as we should. Water will also help flush out toxins when we have that extra glass of wine. Water is the most important thing we can drink to stay healthy and keep our appetites in check.
Think ahead.
Identify the foods that are most likely to throw you off track. Know where you might find them. Allow yourself a small portion of a favorite treat you only have this time of year, no more and no less. Making any food 100% off-limits will only make you resentful and that’s no way to celebrate the holidays.
Eat all day?
The importance of breakfast cannot be understated during the holiday season. The temptation might be to skip meals during the day and back-fill all those calories, but that could leave you hungrier than usual when the dinner arrives, resulting in overeating and overshooting your caloric intake for the day.
Rest.
This is hard when you’re going from party to party, shopping and writing out holiday cards and attending all those obligations, but it’s important to take some time out for yourself to keep things in check. Resting also helps decompress and destress, which can help curb the urge to stress eat in uncomfortable situations.
Hit the gym!
The earlier in the day the better. It’s so difficult to prioritize your time at the end of the year, let alone making sure there’s room for exercise. But if you make it a priority early in the day, it’s one less thing on your list and one more way you’re taking care of yourself and burning off those extra calories.
Try to maintain some balance…
At least on your plate. A balanced meal is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. A lean protein, a small portion of healthy fats and fiber-rich carbs are the best ingredients for a healthy diet and will work together to keep you satisfied and healthy. It can be done!
Be mindful.
Are you eating just because that cookie tray is nearby? Be aware of where you are, what’s around you and why you’re going for that second plate. Grab a glass of water or seltzer and find someone you haven’t talked to in a while, or listen in on a story you haven’t heard before.
Do your best and don’t be too hard on yourself.
If you lose your focus and concentration and end up facing a new year with a few extra pounds, the Skin Center at Southgate Medical Group is ready to help you look your best. We offer CoolSculpting, an efficient and effective way to eliminate stubborn fat without surgery or downtime. It’s the only FDA-approved method to target and eliminate fat that exercise alone can’t cut. Contact us today for more information to make sure 2020 starts on the right path.
