It’s almost Christmas, that time of year to fill your face with food, sit on your butt, sip on baileys and coffee for breakfast and ride that booze train all the way to New Year ’s Day. Then feel fat, bloated, tired and depressed that you let everything go over the holidays. But what if you decided to do it differently this year?
What if you could still enjoy some of the indulgences and not gain an extra 10 pounds and still feel good? Is it possible….absolutely! Follow my tips and tricks and you might just come out of this holiday season unscathed.
Karen’s Five Top Tips and Tricks
1. Get off the ‘all or nothing’ wagon
One of the biggest mistakes people make in their quest for health is the attitude that it should be all or nothing. You’re either working out five days a week or none at all, you’re eating cake every day or only carrot sticks. This can set you up for failure with anything in life including the holiday season. Live by the 80/20 rule for example instead of drinking and eating your face off this season pick your poison. If that’s to have a few drinks with family and friends then great how about staying off the cookies and chocolate. If you love the sweets at Christmas then stay clear of the alcohol. Choose to eat healthy (good proteins, no gluten, healthy fats, low carbohydrate, lots of vegies and fruit) for your three main meals of the day then having some cookies or wine won’t matter as much. Make it a daily rule that 80% of the time you eat well the other 20% is up to you!
2. You can walk
That’s right if you can’t manage the gym over the holidays get outside and walk, go sledding with your kids, build a snowman, drop and do 20 push ups just randomly throughout the day, just do something! Make a plan for yourself right here and now that everyday over the holiday season you will do at least 20 minutes of activity even if it’s just a walk, trust me you will thank me for it.
3. Bake
That’s right I said bake but instead of baking your usual cookies and tarts look up some new recipes for grain free, no refined sugar baked goods. There are tons of alternatives out there for example my amazing Paleo Pumpkin Tart Recipe! Download the recipe:
4. Sleep
This time of year is full of social gatherings from office parties to family get togethers, all reasons for staying up late and not getting a good night sleep. Not getting enough sleep and feeling tired leads to cravings for sugar, laziness and in attempt to feel better, more drinking. This year have a plan, give yourself a curfew and stick to it, force yourself to take a nap and/or sleep in. You want to aim for getting at least 7-8 hours within a 24 hour period.
5. Recharge
If you took time off during this holiday season don’t fill your calendar with nonstop social obligations and instead be sure to take some YOU time. Everyday set aside a block of time where you refill your cup(not literally) for instance get a good novel to read, watch a good Netflix series, do some yoga, write in your journal whatever it is but something that recharges you.
Follow these guidelines and come January you will be running out the starting gates instead of rolling, Merry Christmas everyone.
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