Health Holiday Tips

The holiday season is a time of year that is filled with temptations. We are tempted to over spend, over drink and most of all over eat foods that aren’t really conducive to a healthy lifestyle. Food has always been the center piece of all parties and holiday events.
It is important to make healthy food choices all time, but even more so during the holidays. We tend to get so involved in the holiday celebrations and forget to eat mindfully and by the New Year we have gained 10–20 pounds and end up having a hard time getting rid of the extra holiday weight. The holiday season doesn’t have to be the dreaded season where you lose your willpower and gain weight.
Here are some healthy holiday tips to help keep you healthy and happy throughout the holiday season and beyond.

• Eat a lite healthy meal before you go to your holiday party or event to avoid eating too much at the party.
• Go for the healthiest food choices that are available at the party.
• If you find there are no real healthy choices at the party, do not cross your eating boundaries. Most parties always have salad, veggies and fruit. Eat smaller portions of the food that is available and load up on veggies, salad and fruit.
• If you are allowed to contribute to the party, bring a healthy dish that you and everyone else will enjoy.
• Avoid snacking after 7pm. Over snacking on sweets such as sugar cookies, chocolate, cake, brownies etc. (You get the picture) Means extra pounds in the New Year.
• Eat in moderation. You can still enjoy all the food at the party including the sweet stuff if you eat in moderation and try not to eat too late.
• Avoid the white stuff and I don’t mean snow. Eating white pasta, potatoe chips, bagels, white bread, cookies, white potatoes, or anything that maybe highly processed is usually high in calories.
• Stick to fiber filled choices and breads; such as multi-grain and whole wheat breads. The fiber helps keep you feeling full so you will eat less of the unhealthy stuff.
• Drink a lot of water! Drinking water will help you feel full. Add a little lemon for flavor or have a flavored sparkling water. Try to stay away from sugary soft drinks. Sugary drinks will increase cravings and make you feel hungry.
• Exercise. Just because it’s the holiday season doesn’t mean you shouldn’t exercise. If you have no time for the gym take a walk or a jog. Make it fun.. take a zumba class or something you find fun to do.
• Don’t drink like a fish and drive. Go easy on the alcoholic drinks. Remember we want to make it to the New Year. If you plan on drinking make sure you have a designated driver or a way to get home safely. Drinking in moderation is always the safest and healthiest way to go.
• Do something special for you. Take a day off to celebrate you! Go get your nails done, buy yourself a nice pair of shoes or outfit, go see the play you’ve been dying to see. Have a ladies night out or for you fellas out there a guy’s night out. Do whatever you want that will make you happy and relaxed!

Why should every New Year resolution be about losing weight? It is our responsibility to eat smart and mindfully so we can maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle during and after the holiday season. You will create a new trend for yourself and set an example for your family and friends to follow.

Fall Fitness

Most people complain they have no time to exercise, that they are too busy. Hello!!...Welcome to life! We are all busy! If you have slacked on your exercise routine don't beat yourself over it. Fall is a great time to start a fitness program and recommit yourself to exercise and creating a healthier life.

Take a few minutes to think and write down some reasons why you want to exercise, such as to stay healthy and disease free, lose weight so you can fit into your holiday party outfit, or your doctor recommended you exercise. What ever your "WHY" is write it down once you start your exercise routine write down the exercise goals you've accomplished. Start small in the beginning and as your become more fit set higher goals.

I found with my client's the best way to stay motivate and stick to an exercise program is to find an exercise or activity you like. If you don't like to go to the gym to workout with weights you will not stick with it. In less than a month you will stop exercising. Fall is a great season to find new forms of exercise and physical activities that are not only good for you, but a lot of fun to do.

The Fall months are a great time to exercise outdoors and enjoy cooler temperatures. Walking, running, and hiking are great forms of exercise to do in the Fall and your not constricted indoors like you would at a gym and best of all walking and hiking are free, if you own a bike or roller blades try cycling or in-line skating. If your near a body of water such as a lake or river, try canoeing, kayaking. It will give you an awesome full-body workout and it's a great change of pace from the norm. Rock climbing and horseback riding are other fun forms of exercising. Be sure to exercise 3-4 days of the week on a weekly basis to get the healthiest results.

Always dress in layers if your are going to be exercising in the cool, crisp Fall air, same rule applies if you are exercising outside in the Winter. Raking leaves and doing yard work is a great way to burn calories and it will get your heart pumping. Remember it doesn't have to feel like exercise to be a great workout!

Some may prefer to go to a gym. Most gyms have exercise classes that start in the Fall. Whether it's Zumba, Yoga, pilates, or kick boxing, you can rest assure you will find an exercise class you can enjoy. Another fun form of exercise is dancing. Ballroom, Tap, Belly dance are just a few of the many fun dance classes you can try out. Look around and see what interest you.

Don't forget to treat yourself with other activities that promote wellness so you can feel good on a mind, body, spirit level. Try a massage, sauna, Reiki message, aromatherapy, a cut of herbal tea or anything that will make you feel special on all levels. Exercise, wellness, and self care is all about self love. This Fall show yourself how much you love yourself. By creating a healthy and happy lifestyle that will last a life time.