Holidays are coming, and we all know what that means. Many parties with lot of food and drinks, until late night and sometimes ending with hangovers. After all that, of course the bad feeling of regression because you gain few pounds in short time and you were working long time so hard to lose them. Additionally, you are usually even more tired after holiday instead of being full of energy and ready for the next year and new challenges. Moreover, most of people often hate themselves for every single bit of food or too much unhealthy drinks they had during holiday parties. In that way, they begin the new years feeling so negative about themselves what definitely leads to more stress and lack of productivity. If you think that is impossible to enjoy and relax during holidays while staying fit and healthy, you're wrong. Fortunately, there are just few steps to follow and you may have the best holiday ever without losing your good shape or deteriorate your health.
1. SMALLER PORTIONS OF THE BEST FOOD
When it comes to holidays food, people usually want to try everything what is on the table, especially if there are some new dishes they have never tried. It is difficult to control how much and what you eat when you are surrounded with various tempting food and drinks. Sometimes, you may even eat just from courtesy if you are a guest at somebody's house. Consuming more food than your body needs will lead to weight gain and post holiday depression by coming back to daily routines. When you are not active so much like on holidays where people spend most part of their time sitting, and you eat more than you spend, it is more likely that you will gain some weight and even feel bloated. Therefore, choose smartly what you eat, and remember that your body can't support everything that your eyes are looking on. In a nutshell, choose the best from food that is offered, or if you really crave to try almost everything, then strive for smaller portions instead of eating full plate of every meal and snack. Finally, avoid to eat just for habit even when you are not hungry. Although sometimes it seems like it is, good holidays are not only about food and drinks, so be focused more on spending nice and quality time with your family and friends. Gain more beautiful memories, than stubborn bodyweight pounds!
2. LISTS OF PLANS
We all know that holiday time can be so chaotic, busy and stressful. After buying presents, preparing food, and organize everything, you may not have time for yourself and moreover this constant stress could lead to unbalanced hormones and then to bodyweight gain. Therefore, help yourself by making daily list for all of your obligations including your workouts. During this crazy time around Christmas and New Year, even those the most dedicated to fitness usually skip their workouts because of poor organization, what leads to lack of time and energy. To avoid this completely break of exercising or wait that holiday past to start working out for the first time, you should manage your time wisely so you don't deprive yourself from anything. For example, try to do your workout in the morning, before you start with other daily activities that could take all your time and energy so you even lose motivation to exercise at the end of the day. If you can't go to the gym, you could still do home workouts following some fitness videos or making your own workout plan of mostly bodyweight movements that don't require special equipment. Don't forget that any workout is better than no one! In addition, working out will help you to relax and handle better with stressful situation. Exercise also releases endorphins which are known as your hormones of happiness so you will be more positive and full of energy during your day. As for your workouts, set a time for everything you have to do, so you may have a better control under things with less stress.
3. BE MORE ACTIVE
Weather you are or not a fitness lover and fun of exercising, you should keep moving as often as you can doing some physical activities. By being active you improve your health and also body image which usually has a great influence on your self confidence. Everyone has different interests so you should find your own favorite activities that will improve your life and keep you motivated. This is especially important during holidays when people spend most of their time sitting or even laying down and consuming unnecessary amount of food and drinks.
Instead of usual passive holidays, it would be interesting to include some physical activities that will
keep you and your beloved fit, healthy and happy. For instance, you could organize some plays in snow, ice skating or just go for a winter walk and enjoy in casual talk with cup of hot drink on way. Keep yourself busy with some interesting activities that will prevent you from eating just because of boredom and then really enjoy in good meal when you get hungry after fun and active day.
4. STAY HYDRATED
You have probably heard so far many times how much is important to always keep your body hydrated mostly with water. The amount of water that individual's body needs may vary due to physical activity and even nutrition. For example, since coffee works as diuretic, for every cup of coffee you drink, you should have one more glass of water beside usual amount. The best thing to avoid dehydration is to drink at least 8 glasses of water daily, but have in mind that on more active days you may need even more fluids. On holidays people usually drink more beverages such as soda, alcohol drinks, juices and cocktails. Although you can avoid yourself some treats in nutrition so you enjoy also in various drinks, don't forget to drink also spring water and even green tea that will improve your digestion and help you to avoid bloating that can occur after all this different food and drinks that you consume in short time. The following advice is good for holiday time but also in your general life - always carry a bottle of water with you. In that way, it is more likely that you will drink more water and also track easier how many you actually drink every day.
5. KITCHEN CREATIVITY
There is no better time to be creative in your kitchen than holidays time. You can make so many different food which could be healthy, delicious and also look amazing. Challenge yourself to try some new healthy recipes that you have never made before, so now is a good time to surprise your guests. Improving some old recipes could also be a good idea if you are not ready to experiment with completely new dishes. What you should do is just change some ingredients little bit and make every dish more healthy so you and your beloved may enjoy in food without regression. We all love when food look nice, so try also to be creative as much as you can to make every meal looking tempting. In that way, your dear people and you will eat more of this healthy food and still enjoy, without craving so much for other junk food or cakes with too much sugar and saturated fat. Therefore, include some creativity during cooking to improve your health and also fun during holidays.
6. REST AND SLEEP
Excitement, many obligations, and stuff to prepare, all that end with lack of sleep for almost everyone. Most of people may even don't feel tiredness during holidays, and they stay awake until late night, but consequences usually come after holidays are finished. During holiday time, it is difficult to have a quality sleep weather you are a guest or host. If you are at home and you have some guests who are staying very long, you would probably feel uncomfortable to end the party even though you are maybe already tired. On the other hand, as a guest you will avoid some cleaning after crazy party but if you stay longer enjoying in the night, you may also feel so tired until you come to your own home and prepare yourself for sleep. In addition, people who eat and drink too much could have problem with sleep and after several similar days of partying, your body would be exhausted in every way. Think about that next time before you deprive yourself from sleeping and if is possible take at least some naps to rest when you don't sleep enough. Help your body and organism to always function well so you may feel and look better what will definitely improve your holidays.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Written by Tamara Arapovic