This is a time of year where it can be easy to over-indulge. Who can resist splashing out on festive foods, enjoying the celebrations whilsts taking a break for a few days? This is also the time of year where it is easy to fall out of your normal exercise routine or eat more than your fair share of holiday treats. So, here are my tips for staying healthy in the holiday season.
1. Avoid Snacking or Over-Eating
One of the big risks during the holiday season is over-eating. When you are enjoying tasty and delicious festive food, it is very difficult to show restraint. Often we end up eating a lot more than our fill and I know that in my family home, I am expected to! The challenge is that this is where the problem can begin.
My tips are to try and avoid eating large meals at other points during the day. This can be hard if you are visiting more than one household but do your best. The other tip is that I try to avoid eating between meals. Given the amount that I have eaten over lunch or dinner, there is limited need for much more during the day. Even if I get a bit hungry between meals, I will resist the urge as much as possible or stick to fruit rather than anything more substantial.
2. Take Breaks During Your Meals
It can help to take a rest during your meal so you can register whether your stomach is becoming full. This is probably just a good habit in general but the nature of festive food means that you can be left feeling bloated and a bit ill if you over-indulge. I take short breaks during my meal to give my body a chance to register how much food is in my stomach before I have another helping. I personally have the habit of eating without pause, so it helps me to remember that a short break every now and again will not do me any harm at all.
3. Alcohol Free Days
When you are celebrating the festive season, attending parties and catching up with loved ones is normally part of the package. Alcohol free days are a way of managing your calories and trying to give your body a chance to recover between celebrations. When we drink we consume both the calories in the alcohol but also tend to eat more of the wrong foods as well. This helps to maintain the right balance between celebration and over-indulgence as well as avoiding a sore head in the morning.
4. Do Some Light Exercise After A Big Meal
When you finish your festive meal, it is really tempting to fall asleep. I would suggest trying to have a short break and then taking a walk or some other form of light exercise. It does not need to be too vigorous but will help to keep you moving and start burning some of the calories you have just eaten. Remember that weight management is all about calories in and calories out so you may as well get started straight away. A light walk can also be a lovely activity to share with others or to help you wind down after a big celebration.
5. Pack Your Exercise Gear
If you are traveling over the holidays, the most important thing is to pack your exercise gear. Most people use their holiday break as an excuse not to do any exercise. If you can still maintain thirty minutes a day, even if that is spent walking or playing games with the kids, then you are already doing well. This could also be a great opportunity to break up your regular routine by trying new activities or discovering new things. One of my favourite activities on holiday is to go for a run around the place that I am visiting whilst everyone is still waking up. It gives me a chance to take a look around and become more familiar with my new surrounds, as well as breaking up my normal running routine.
These are just a few tips to help you stay healthy in the festive season. The important thing to remember though is to have fun and enjoy the time no matter what you are doing. This is a great time to connect with your loved ones which can have an amazing benefit for your wellbeing. Enjoy your rest and feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions.