The holiday season is upon us once again and for many that means putting our healthy behaviors aside to celebrate. However, let’s give ourselves a special gift this year and step outside the norm by maintaining a healthier you while still celebrating these festive times with friends and family. With these simple suggestions it is easy to do both, all it takes is just a little momentum on your part!
Keep a focus on short term physical activity goals. Don’t try to set any unrealistic or over advanced expectations upon yourself during the holiday season. Instead focus on a daily perspective of just getting in some type of movement.
Try something new! Sure you may enjoy your daily exercise routine and there is nothing wrong with that. However, if you have been telling yourself that you’ve wanted to try something new for some time now, make this the perfect time to start. Even using a different pair of shoes or new playlist on your MP3 player is a great way to change things up, inspire you and keep you motivated!
Schedule in physical activity! Sure, I don’t enjoy seeing people view physical activity as a mandatory chore, but rather strive to see them view it as an enjoyment and privilege. However, as our days can be increasingly busy during the holiday season, scheduling in time to do physical activity is a great way to ensure you don’t miss out on that support.
Always carry a bottle of water with you! With our days being hectic and special occasions going on, it can be increasingly difficult to remember to get in our water or instead choose other gut busting drinks. Always carrying around a bottle of water is a great way to ensure that you are properly keeping yourself hydrated and even avoiding excessive consumption of other caloric drinks. Since it is the holiday season, make the bottles festive by adding slices of lemon, lime, mint or berries to provide a sense of celebration to the water.
Keep a record! Perhaps you keep a daily journal all year long of what you do during the day; well this is especially not the time to put that support system aside. Keeping a log of what your day looks like is a great form of accountability and support during these festive yet often stressful times.
Well balanced meals are the key to success. Sure there is the influx of holiday parties and gatherings that often resolve around food and drink. And perhaps there will be the occasional (emphasis on occasional) indulgence. Yet, make sure that the majority of the time you maintain a strong and disciplined regime of eating a well balanced meal. This will help ward off the excess portion sizes and treats that are the biggest culprit to any weight management. Put the social back into social gatherings and have the food and drink be merely there and not the focus.
Rest is essential! With the extra events on the calendars during this period be careful of not finding yourself sacrificing your need for rest. This means taking times out to recoup, limiting the use of caffeine and alcohol which are preventers of adequate rest. Also, by keeping up a consistent exercise routine, this will help you with maintaining your habits of sound sleep.
You are your own self! With the increase of social gatherings and family events, prevent yourself from comparing yourself to others. Focus on your personal best! It is not about the scale or how you look compared to those around you, but by how you feel, how your clothes are fitting and how you are progressing in your weight management. This is what is ultimately important, no matter what time of the year it is!
So, enjoy yourself this holiday season and remember just by following these simply steps you can find yourself not only enjoying yourself but also keeping up a stronger and healthier you! Happy Holiday Season everyone!
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