The days before, during and after Christmas are just filled with family dinners, office parties and neighbourly barbecues. The food during Christmas is one of our favourite things about the holiday season BUT figuring out afterward that our pants don’t fit when we’re ready to head back to work can put a damper on a positive mood for the New Year. Staying healthy during these upcoming celebrations is all about planning and keeping your health as the main focus.
Try not to succumb to the holiday mindset of eat, drink, sleep repeat; but push yourself to stick to your regular routine, especially concerning exercise. This will keep you positive and motivated to want to stay fit and healthy. Sure, stuff your plate, but opt for more vegetable-laden dishes instead of the buns and turkey. Alcohol is also loaded with sugar and empty calories, so go easy on the drinks.
Try drinking a mineral water in between each alcohol-based drink to pace yourself. Avoid creamy rich cocktails and soft drink mixers and stick to white wine spritzers, or clear spirits such as gin with mineral water and a twist of lime. If you’re heading to a cocktail or office Christmas party, try to go on a full stomach so that you’re not too tempted to eat unhealthy finger food. If you are offered food and don’t think it is polite to say no, say that it looks delicious, but you are full and ask to take it home.
Basically, it isn’t that hard. Just be mindful of what you are eating and drinking and avoid anything in excess. BUT also do not deprive yourself – after all, it is Christmas! If you really want that extra piece of succulent turkey, have it and enjoy it. If you deprive yourself, you will end up caving after a couple of glasses of wine and devour leftovers straight from the pans. Of course, if you have overindulged a bit; you can just make a New Year’s resolution to start working out and eating right starting the first day of 2017! Head to Joga for healthy juices, yoga and Pilates classes or get a new gym membership at Belair Fitness Centre, for example!
