They’re here! How did those holidays and all the trimmings sneak up on us again?

‘Tis the season of jam-packed calendars, shopping, celebrations, out-of-town guests, cooking, entertaining, stresses of to-do-lists, traveling, parties, and, oh…..trying to maintain a regular exercise program and healthy eating habits.

You already know that staying active helps boost your energy level, reduces stress and mitigates some of the extra calories you may be eating. Check out these quick tips to help find a balance during this “challenging” time of year.

The Staying Active Part

Schedule your Body Firm workouts and KEEP them. Make yourself a priority. You’re worth that 45-60 minutes, right?

Walk as much as possible.

  • Take extra laps at the mall, use the stairs, park a little further away from entrances to stores.
  • Take your out-of-town guests on walks/runs or hikes and show off this awesome Arizona weather
  • Walk around your (or another) neighborhood to enjoy the holiday decorations.

If you’re traveling

  • Check out the Body Firm website exercise video library for exercises you can do with your own body weight.
  • Search for walking, running or park trails nearby and use them
  • If you’re staying at a hotel, find out if there is an exercise room there and use it
  • If you’re staying with family, ask if they have any fitness equipment or if you can access their local gym and use it
  • Take along resistance bands (ask your BF trainer for some tips) and use them
  • Gather your friends/family outside for throwing a football, Frisbee, walking their dog, etc.
  • Volunteer to shovel snow or rake leaves

  The Healthy-“ish” Eating Part

Let’s be real, with all the goodies that appear this time of year, who isn’t going to indulge at least a little? It’s okay — because you’re going to find ways to stay active (right?), and eating all those yummy things is temporary. So enjoy them, however….

  • Use moderation
  • Don’t make them too accessible – that’s when mindless grazing can occur
  • Keep a balance by including protein with all meals – it helps to reduce hunger and appetite
  • Plan ahead – take your healthy dish to a gathering; eat a healthy snack or meal prior to attending holiday functions
  • Skip second helpings. Take a breather and assess your hunger level
  • Use smaller plates, eat slower and more mindful, watch portion sizes
  • Reduce calories in recipes
    • While baking, replace butter with applesauce, mashed banana or pumpkin puree
    • Use cooking methods such as baking, steaming or grilling instead of frying
    • Substitute low-fat or non-fat half & half for cream
    • Replace cream cheese, sour cream and mayo with Greek yogurt
    • Avoid processed foods as much as possible
  • Drink water, drink water, drink water.
  • Limit your “liquid” calories; use club soda or sparkling water in place of sweetened beverages
  • Volunteer to be the designated driver.
  • Decide which foods are worth it to you and which really aren’t. One of our clients uses monetary representation in place of calories. How “much” do you want to “spend?”

The most important thing is to be realistic and go easy on yourself. You aren’t always in charge of your schedule during the holidays so you can only do your best. Remind yourself that you can get back to your routine when you’re back