What did you munch on last night? Yeah, me too. Boozy egg nog and some chocolate. Not the best choice, although it was dark chocolate! No, it is not my average late-night munchy of choice. I usually opt for kalamata olives, grape tomatoes, goat cheese, and some fancy crackers that look like a sliver of logs – Yum!
In life, we’re influenced by what surrounds us; by our loved ones and their opinions; what’s on the treat table, etc. These things motivate us to behave in specific ways. Add the holiday season to that mix, and it could lead to mindless snacking, leaving us with an excess of unwanted weight and not to mention guilt.
How about we avoid that altogether?
We could bypass that stress with a bit of strategic planning and commitment to our health. If you feel stressed about adding extra weight during the holidays, especially if quarantine life dropped a few on you already, this blog post is for you. I’m here to share strategic tips you could easily incorporate into the holiday season.
I will not suggest you restrict yourself from anything. Instead, I suggest you decide on a plan and add in extra movement!
- Exercise first thing in the morning. If you’re a morning person, ride that boat! Put on your stretchy pants and get your workout in. Get moving in the morning to release those feel-good endorphins. When we feel good we make better decisions. Confused about where to begin? Contact me for a free 20-minute virtual consultation. We’ll discuss your health and fitness priorities to tailor a program to your unique goals.
- Drink a glass of water before your meal; you’ve probably heard this one before. I don’t drink a full glass of water before my meal, about half a glass to be precise. Instead, I focus on the nutritious offerings on my plate rather than filling my stomach with too much liquid. However, it’s a viable option. Customize it to your situation.
- Prioritize lean proteins and fiber from your meal; these take longer to digest. Savor every little morsel.
- Whenever possible, go for a walk after your meals. More movement means more glucose is being shuttled out of the bloodstream into the muscles. Reducing circulating blood glucose is helpful for type II diabetics.
- Keep healthy snacks you ENJOY within reach. What I keep handy are pistachios, walnuts, Greek yogurt, kale chips, grapefruits, cottage cheese, figs, cucumbers, and hummus – I can not leave out dark chocolate. Choose fruits and vegetables low on the glycemic index (and are in season). Enjoy dark chocolate in moderation!
- Play, this is a fun one! Play movement-based video games or if you have children running around, join them! My point here is to get moving wherever you can.
Above all, enjoy your family time.
One day of holiday comfort food will not derail your fitness, however, overthinking and self-shaming will. Plan a healthy strategy and eat that pumpkin pie without any guilt.
Stay well, and Happy Thanksgiving!
Stand tall Breathe deep,
Corina
Integrative Fitness Therapy 