Our fitness and health goals tend to be put on pause during the holiday season. In the spirit of celebration, we often switch off our sensibilities. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Sure, we’re allowed to indulge every once in a while but we don’t need to jeopardize everything we’ve worked for during the previous months. Your health can remain a priority even as you enter into the festivities with your friends and family. Below are a few useful tips you can follow.
Be Mindful
This is useful advice for life in general, but for the holiday season, it is especially helpful. When eating, give yourself some time to pause after each mouthful. This will allow you to enjoy the flavors and aroma of the food you’re eating. It will also prevent you from overstuffing yourself. According to dietitian and nutrition therapist Alissa Rumsey, it pays to shift back your attention to your body so you’ll be able to pick up satisfaction cues.
Don’t Attend A Party Hungry
This doesn’t mean you have to show up full, either, as that would defeat the purpose. However, if your strategy is to skip meals the entire day to save calories for the party, it might backfire as it can trigger you to overeat. To avoid that, load up on something light before leaving the house. A light snack will do but if you want to make it count, choose something that’s high in fiber and contains lean protein to help control your appetite later on.
A serving of your favorite low-cal green smoothie will do. Just add in a spoonful of Purisure’s Spirulina Powder (which is chock-full of protein and only has 20 calories) and some leafy greens for added fiber and you’ll feel satisfied enough to keep yourself from binging.
Don’t Drink on an Empty Stomach
Alcohol messes up your stomach linings. Aside from that, booze also diminishes your inhibitions, making you less able to control what you eat. If you are going to drink, alternate it with a glass of water. If water is too plain for your tastebuds, try flavored seltzer instead.
Stay Hydrated
This advice is applicable all-year-round and is not exclusive for people who want to lose weight. Whether you need to shed extra pounds or not, you need to drink water. The quality of our diets may decrease over the holidays, making drinking water more important. Staying hydrated is one way to ensure that our body is able to maintain all functions properly. It also minimizes the intensity of your hangovers which are more likely to happen during this merry season.
And speaking of hangovers, it would be best to avoid them completely. Purisure’s Dihydromyricetin Capsules can help detoxify your liver, protect your nerve cells, and prevent nasty hangovers from happening. Just make sure to take a capsule or two immediately after drinking and you’re good to go for the next day.
Dance
It’s an activity that makes you happy and that in itself is an extreme health bonus. It also helps you burn extra calories and gets your blood flowing. If you haven’t had enough time to workout due to your hectic holiday sched, make up for it by lighting up the dancefloor with your energy.
Don’t Sit Too Close to the Buffet Table
Out of sight, out of mind.You’ll be less tempted to grab whatever looks delicious when you can’t see it or when you’re far from it. Avoid sitting too close to wherever the food is, especially if you know you’re prone to recreational eating. If it helps, carry a pack of gum or mints so you can chew on something in between courses. As a bonus, it also keeps your breath fresh while you mingle with everyone else in the room.
The Bottom Line
Learn to balance everything during the holidays. Eat when you’re hungry but learn to stop yourself when you’re full. Eat slowly and mindfully so you can savor your food while also giving time for your tummy to send signals to your brain that it’s satisfied. Also, don’t make food the highlight of every party you go to.
Instead of focusing on eating and trying every available dish and dessert that’s served, try to pay more attention to the celebration happening around you. Mingle with your friends and family, especially those that you haven’t seen in a long time. And most importantly, don’t stress it. You don’t need to make this season more stressful than it already is. Just have fun and go with it.
Happy Holidays!
References:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/12-tips-for-holiday-eating-201212245718
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/healthy-eating-through-the-holidays-2018112015386