With all the extra stress, snacks and sweets that come hand-in-hand with the Christmas holiday season, it’s no wonder many of us are entering into the New Year with a little extra padding around the middle. Here are 10 recommendations to help you tip the scales in your favor this December.
1. Hydrate
And we don’t mean with beer, wine or soft drink. Drinking lots of water will help you stay full, while also staving off those pesky holiday hangover headaches. The hotter the day, the more you need to drink!
2. Load up on the veggies
When dishing up your Christmas dinner plate, a good rule of thumb is to make half your plate vegetables (and no, mashed potatoes don’t count). Also beware of any cream and butter-laden veggie “casseroles”. Opt for fresh, grilled or steamed.
2. Bring a healthy dish to the party
There’s an easy way to ensure there’s at least one nutritious dish at the office potluck—bring it yourself! There’s so many festive and healthy options out there, it just takes a little extra planning.
3. Have a fallback cocktail
We won’t tell you to refrain from partying (we’re not crazy, after all!) but we will recommend you keep one or two low-cal cocktail recipes in your arsenal. Try a refreshing wine spritzer or vodka and cranberry juice.
4. Stay active
Don’t let the hustle and bustle of the holiday season interrupt your fitness routine. Now more than ever, it’s important to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day. Pressed for time? Break it up into two 15-minute sweat sessions.
6. Simplify and organize
Stress and anxiety is a breeding ground for making the wrong choice with food. Avoid it by staying organized. Make lists, avoid peak shopping times, and enlist the help of family and friends.
7. Don’t shop hungry!
Perusing the aisles of the grocery store while your stomach is grumbling will only lead to unneeded and unhealthy purchases, so make sure you have a full stomach before you head out the door. If you’re planning an all-day shopping spree, pack some healthy snacks and to help you avoid the enticing scents wafting from the Food Court.
8. Family fitness
We’re lucky enough to live in a country that has amazing weather at Christmas time. Get outside for some backyard cricket, playing with the kids (especially their new toys) and combine family time, fitness and fun all together.
9. Eat a nutritious breakfast.
Many of us may think that by skipping the first meal of the day, we’ll be saving ourselves extra calories. Don’t make this mistake! Missing breakfast will leave you ravenously hungry come lunchtime, making you that much more susceptible to the tray of cookies your co-worker brought in.
10. Book in with your Personal Trainer
We’re open for most of Christmas, so there’s no reason to skip sessions. Off work for Christmas? Great you might have time to squeeze in an extra session. Got the kids? Great, bring them along for a fun family fitness session. What a great example to set for the kids! Away for holidays? No worries, we’re across much of Australia so odds are you can still train with one of our Trainers. We’re one big team here at Fitness Enhancement so the session will be just as good as always. Chat to your Trainer or get in touch with our Personal Trainers at head office to check if we’re in your holiday destination.