5 Tips to Stay Healthy and Fit During the Holidays.

By Shannon Flanagan – CPT  (Photo: Constant Contact)

1. Change up your workout routine
2. Make smarter choices with ingredients
3. Drink plenty of water
4. Get rid of leftovers
5. 3-5 day cleanse

1. Now that winter is here and it’s getting colder out in most states, (In LA it’s still 80 degrees) your outdoor routine has most likely changed. It is time to switch up your exercise routine, but this is a good thing. Your body gets used to workouts if you do the same routine over and over again. If you run a lot in the summer, than in the winter you should focus on weight training and vice versa. If you don’t ever go to the gym, just get in there! Find a new class to jumpstart your new body.

2. Try swapping out some high calorie ingredients for healthier choices in your holiday meals and desserts.

For example, substitute two egg whites for every whole egg. Egg whites have about 17 calories and zero fat, opposed to 70 calories per whole egg.

Substitute heavy cream for coconut milk. Most creamy soups or desserts get their richness and silky texture from heavy cream, which is loaded with fat. Omit all the heavy cream and substitute half the amount with canned light coconut milk and half the amount with chicken or vegetable stock.

Substitute plain, fat-free Greek yogurt for sour cream or mayonnaise in almost any recipe. Think veggie dips, creamy salad dressings or toppings for tacos, fajitas, chili and baked potatoes. Not only will you get a tangy taste with less fat and fewer calories, yogurt is also a great source of protein.

3. Now more than ever it is important to stay hydrated! Even though it’s colder outside and you are not losing as much water as in the summer, you still need to drink plenty of water. When you are not properly hydrated, you may feel a burning sensation in your stomach that is similar to hunger pains. This feeling can lead you to unnecessary calorie consumption. Also by substituting one glass of water for a glass of wine at a holiday event saves you 100-200 calories a glass.

4. One day of overindulgence will not ruin your progress. If you stay on track all week, it is good to let your body have that one day to reset. It also keeps you sane. With that said, you will ruin all the hard work you put in to your figure if you “overindulge” for days after the holiday. The reason why Americans gain 10-15 pounds during the holidays is not because of one day…it is multiple days of eating poorly. Save one dessert or side dish that you crave all year and eat it through out the week. Save all the other cookies or side dishes for the rest.

5. The holidays are all about celebrating and over-indulgence. Celebration is great but over-indulgence brings more regret than satisfaction. Here’s an idea; don’t wait to do a New Year cleanse to rid yourself of holiday toxins. Instead, do a “Pre-Christmas Cleanse” early in December to help keep you on track and roll into the New Year fitter than before. A cleanse does not mean starving yourself. Contact me for the right, safe, and healthy cleanse for you. ([email protected])