It’s no secret that the period between Thanksgiving and New Years can be stressful. Between holiday parties, travel, colder weather, work and other responsibilities; this time of the year means inevitable routine changes. Many of my clients have asked for tips and strategies to stay healthy, reduce stress and still have a great time during this hectic season. So, I thought I would share some easy to implement tips to get you through the holidays and beyond.

Don’t skip meals It’s common for people to think that when they skip a meal, they are ‘saving’ calories. Starving yourself all day so that you can indulge at the holiday party is a strategy that usually backfires. By the time you get to the party you are so hungry that you end up making poor choices. Instead, focus on eating healthy meals throughout the day and before leaving for a party; eat a light snack like raw vegetables or a piece of fruit to help curb your appetite.

Keep moving It’s easy to relegate exercise during this time year, but do your best to try to get some kind of movement everyday. On the days where you can’t fit your regular exercise in consider taking the stairs instead of the elevator, don’t drive if you can walk or go for a walk around the block after dinner.

Drink water With running errands, cooking, traveling, and having one too many cocktails- it’s easy for our bodies to get dehydrated. Drink water throughout the day and even better drink 1 cup of water in between each cocktail.

Sleep I’ve said it before; lack of sleep weakens your immune system and can lead to over eating. Not getting enough rest also makes us less efficient—not ideal this time of year. So, do everything you can to get 7-9 hours of sleep every night. This will keep your stress levels low and boost your immune system.  See more sleep tips here.

Lose the guilt Whether you indulge in foods you don’t usually eat or you completely overdid it at the dessert table, the last thing you should do is put yourself down and feel guilty about it. Don’t let one day of indulgence fill you with guilt. During the holidays we eat food that may not be available other times of the year and you should enjoy it! Just remember that tomorrow is a new day to get back on track.

Do you have other tips for staying healthy during the holidays?

Do you need help staying on track during the holidays? I can help--contact me for a free consultation. 

This is a delicious and super easy to make treat with lots of  healthy spices and sweetened with maple syrup. This bread makes a wonderful hostess or holiday gift.  
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