Reader’s Request: Healthy Holidays
Hi friends! Hope you’re having a wonderful morning! I thought it would be fun to revisit this older post, and update it a bit to reflect the current holiday season. I’ve received so many questions about maintaining fitness goals and keeping consistent during the holidays, so I thought I’d share some tips.
From a reader email:
I was wondering if you could do a readers request on a topic that I’ve been struggling with. I have worked really hard over the last several months to build a lean, muscular figure and have lost the last few pounds and I was doing great and was focused. Well, now the holidays are here and every morning I wake up, I say to myself, I’m going to stay on track, but then we end up at parties and dinners and I guess I just give in. How do you get through the holidays having fun, but striding towards living a healthy lifestyle? Your opinion and thoughts/advice mean a lot to me, so anything would help. If you have already done a post on something similar, could you just point me to it? Thanks in advance for taking the time to read my message!
So here’s the dealio: I treat the holidays just like any other time of year, just a little more laidback than usual.
For me, maintaining my fitness is about being consistent over time. Whenever I want to *up* things, I do it during a non-holiday time of year (like the Winter Shape Up in late January or Summer Shape Up mid summer).
December and early January is definitely an interesting season, especially when we’re surrounded with endless holiday desserts and reasons to skip out on the gym.
Here are some of my favorite tips on how to enjoy the holidays while maintaining your fitness success and sanity:
1. Load up on fruits and veggies. Before we go to a dinner party or cocktail party, I make sure that I’ve eaten well throughout the day (it’s easy to skip meals or make less-than-stellar choices when you’re chasing around two active little humans) and that I’m well-hydrated.
This way I’m not ravenous when I walk in the door, and can decide what I really want to enjoy. My party mentality is to pack my plate with fruits and veggies, and enjoy bits of the more indulgent, but delicious-looking entrees and appetizers.
2. Prioritize. As a serious chocoholic and lover of all things dessert (except crème brulee- blech), there’s no reason to be denied of the glorious holiday treats in store. However, I try to decide which ones are worth it, and which ones aren’t. Store-bought cookies or brownies? So not worth it. My mom’s magic cookie bars with graham crackers, chocolate chips and coconut? Yes, please.
At family events, I’ll get a little piece of every dessert. I’ll go for a full serving for the one I want the most. This year at Thanksgiving, it was a giant piece of my nana’s coconut cake.
3. Get your sweat on. The holidays are fun, but they can also be stressful. (When I first wrote this post, the Pilot was out of country and we were getting ready for a cross-country move. Now we’re getting ready for another one.) Exercise endorphins come in handy this time of year! Make time for an early morning workout, before you get started on the day’s frenzy. You’ll feel good all day. Have a cousin/aunt/uncle/parent/cat that’s driving you crazy? Work out.
When I’m traveling during the holidays, I’ll get a trial pass at a gym that’s close by (usually they’ll do it for free!) and explore online workout options. Some of my favorite at-home workout options are in this post.
Also, brisk shopping totally counts as cardio.
4. Don’t put added pressure on yourself. The holidays are NOT the time to start a new fitness program or change your diet. It may work for a few people, but chances are that you’ll feel pretty miserable and stressed. Wait it out, and maintain what you’re doing by eating well and working out moderately during the holiday season.
Also, ditch the “wagon” mentality. There is no wagon. If you have a flat tire, you don’t slash the rest of your tires; you change the tire and move on. Same thing goes for health and fitness. If you have an “off” day or night, or feel like you didn’t make amazing choices, it doesn’t matter. Start again right then and there, and remember that it’s the grand scheme of things. It’s actually good for your body to have days where you eat more or workout less; it keeps cruise control from kicking in.
5. Plan holiday outings. Workouts don’t always have to be at the gym! Make plans to walk around a neighborhood with awesome light displays, take a hike with the fam, or treat your dog to some extra holiday walks outside. It’s an easy way to get in some extra movement when your days are filled with to-dos and gatherings.
A vintage picture of Bella and Viesa in their Santa outfits:
6. Remember that holidays are more about people than anything else. Presents, delicious foods and parties and just the icing on the cake. Take time to be in the moment and enjoy each other, rather than worrying about extra dessert or missed gym time. Remember that in the grand scheme of things, it will all balance out.
(That one time I hiked in that white stuff that falls from the sky.)
What are your favorite healthy holiday tips?? Please share via the comments section <3
Have a happy almost-Friday and I’ll see you later this afternoon.
xoxo,
Gina
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I love #6! Spending time with family is what it’s really about. I don’t treat the holidays much differently, I just have an overabundance of cookies in my house. 🙂 I never miss a workout and drink lots of water too… but is still isn’t much different than normal!
#2 is so true. I don’t miss eating any of the savory holiday dishes, but sweets are where I really make it count. It’s always hard for me not to eat five dessert plates, though!!
I’m with Jessica. I “indulge” and I don’t play the guilt game. If I want a brownie, I’ll have a brownie. If I want cheese and crackers, I’ll have them — because the holidays and family time and the spirit all only come around once a year. 🙂
Happy holidays, girls!
i try to be proactive about my meal planning by looking at my calendar a week a head of time and determining what parties/ events i’ll be going to that week. i plan really healthy eats for the days when i don’t have anything planned. that way, i’ve been feeding my body well and have a little room to fudge… or for fudge.
i also make it a priority to work out 6 days a week, no matter what. during the holidays it’s so tempting to skip a day because of a busier schedule, but that one skipped day can easily turn into an entire week of non-workouts.
I like your advice that it will all balance out. Just remind yourself that set backs might happen but you will always be able to get back to it so that you don’t sabotage yourself and just go crazy overboard with the holiday indulgences.
Taste everything, eat nothing (or really, just a little bit). I think your tip about filling up on the good for you stuff is great. Planning ahead is always helpful!
What amazing advice! My only additional tip would be expanding upon your “loading up on fruits and veggies” suggestion. I like to keep my eats extra clean between holiday partying- I up my doses of green juice and eat mounds of veggies. That way my body’s in a clean and decent enough shape to deal with whatever I throw at it later this month when parties are goin’ on ALL THE TIME! HOORAY for pumpkin oats- I’m eating ’em as I type this 😉
Love number 6! I think portion control is important, that way you can have everything you want without overdoing it like you said about dessert, have a lot of your favorite and a little of everything else. Great post!
Definitely focusing on family and visiting, keeps you a little more distracted from the mounds of food sitting within arms length. Playing games is also a good way to keep busy. The occasional treat will be had! My motivation for this christmas season is that i will be going to Mexico at the end of January, so i have to be strong! don’t want to have extra weight on my vacation right after christmas.
GREAT advice! I’m in such a weird situation where I’m leaving the sorority house (with all sorts of horrible, horrible foods always laid out) and going to my parents house. I can cook at my parents house, but there will definitely be fudge, caramel and santa cookies to eat as well. Thank you for the great advice. I know last year I gained a lot of fat during the holidays, so I’m going to try to just keep myself where I am.
Hahaha i love that last pic of you! like the white queen from narnja or something! lol
anyway, for the holidays i totally know it gets hard to work out bc of family gatherings but i think just like any other holidays in the year, make time to work out. even 20 mins. and also portion control. and if you’re cooking, then healthify your cooking so it’s not so bad for you when you eat it. good tips though!!
I agree with all of your tips! 🙂 My biggest thing is making sure to get a workout in first thing in the morning. I always feel less stressed that I got it out of the way before my day even begins. Also, this season, my boyfriend got me Kinect for Christmas, so we get to have some fun together while getting our heart rates up. We like to also play Wii or any sort of game like that with friends and family that gets you moving when getting outside isn’t an option.
We are getting the kinect too! I can not wait. I want to break into it now. I’m excited about sports and zumba!
i signed up for a holiday boot camp….it makes me go and do a major cardio/strength session for the 5 weeks during thanksgiving to new years…i also make sure i maintain my normal cardio sessions
The walking tip is how my family and I like to stay healthy during the holidays- rather than laze around the house and talk for hours, we take it outside and chat while walking. One of my favorite things in the world is walking a 6-mile loop from my house with my mom (and whoever else is around). We live in the woods and are lucky enough to have many miles of trails available. bonus- lots of the trails take us by friends’ and relatives’ houses so we get some socializing in too.
Then when we’re all done and thoroughly chilled, we sit on the couch and drink tea (or a beer!)
Love these tips! I’ve got a post coming up on the same topic ready for tomorrow, but I totally agree with all of yours too. Maintaining my workouts is pretty key- I just get them out of the way in the morning, then leave the rest of the day to celebrate and spend time with people. Love the photo of you in the big sleigh!! 🙂
I host an annual Christmas party and I make sure that I include a tray of fresh or pickled veggies in my spread- I find that by the end of the night, I’m always snacky and this way I can grab something fresh and healthy instead of going for another round of baked brie.
My healthy holiday tips = do yoga, remain calm throughout the holiday busyness, and take time to be thankful and stay well.
Great tips!! I follow so many of these myself. It’s so important to focus on the things that really DO matter– seeing friends and family, and just enjoying the season! That said, daily trips to the gym definitely are key to maintaining my sanity, ha!
i really love the first one about eating a salad before you go out…i be that makes such a huge difference!
Thank you for this Gina!
I’m trying to get back into fitness and my original goal was to workout at least 15 of the 31 days in December… then yesterday I for some reason decided to make my goal to workout everyday in December (unrealistic!)…
Reading that you said “4. Don’t put added pressure on yourself. The holidays are NOT the time to start a new fitness program or change your diet. It may work for a few people, but chances are that you’ll feel pretty miserable and stressed. Wait it out, and maintain what you’re doing by eating well and working out moderately during the holiday season.”
…….really put me and my crazy lofty goal in check, and I decided to go back to my original goal of 15+ days of working out this month! I need to focus on consistency, not unrealistic goals that just set me up for failure! I’ll be more then happy if I workout 15 days this month, thats probally 10 more times then I exercised in all of November. Once I catch that fitness bug (which will take about 2 weeks of consistent working out), maybe ill give myself a big goal in the new year!
I love your blog! Love that you’re real and down to earth!
Love this! My biggest suggestions and what I always follow is: workout (i always up my cardio this time of year, even letting my strength training slide a bit to get those extra calories off) and any meal that isn’t a special meal should be as clean as possible – lots of veggies and lean protein, carbs in the early part of the day (for me, that is best) and LOTS of water. I also steer clear of alcohol as much as I can because it lowers my willpower. I’ve lost 80 lbs. this year and am planning to continue losing through the holidays (i’ve got 6 mos. free gym membership and 12 personal training sessions riding on it!).
you’re so right- everything looks more appetizing after a big glass of vino 😉
Such a great post! I was hoping you would do a post on how to stay healthy and still enjoy the holidays 🙂 All your tips are great and totally do-able. Thank you!! Your bloggy is truly a goldmine of awesomeness :- D
I think people need to realize the facts: most people just gain 1 lb during the holidays. No need to stress, just enjoy and make smart decisions!
Too funny! I read that you “keep a bar” in your purse and thought you meant alcohol : )
HAHA. I did too.
that’s for the “reader’s request: holiday lushes” post haha
This is a great, helpful post—thanks! During Thanksgiving, I was cooped up in a house with 16 relatives. There came a point during each day that I needed some alone-time, so I went for a run around the neighborhood. I got to break a sweat, avoid any family drama happening at the house AND avoid the tempting desserts that were around every corner.
The holidays are ALL about family and doing good for other people! I stay healthy by trying to “healthify” my holiday eats as much as possible, and remember to give as much as I can instead of take….so giving food to people in need is something I try to do often!
I’m a huge dessert nut, too. I can make it through appetizers and dinner fine, but come dessert I feel like I need to try everything. Usually I’ll pick a top three and go with those. And if a dessert isn’t good anymore, I stop eating it.
All great tips G. I find that it helps to focus on not beating myself bc I miss a planned work out. I do what I can when I can. Last Thur I started feeling sick, so I rested through sun… and by sun I was feeling HORRIBLE. Today is my first day back at the gym and am excited to get my sweat on… when in the past I would be feeling bad about how many work outs I’d missed and try to ‘make up’ for lost time.
These tips are so helpful. I always have problems with overeating during the holidays, but i think this will make a good difference 🙂
What an awesome post! I just love your blog, you have such a great attitude! I appreciate that you are so realistic and let us see your splurges. Good luck with your move!
Great tips! I’m with you on the creme brulee, yuck!
I love all the tips. I am actually planning to continue my “diet” through the holidays. I was actually contemplating taking Dec off from my weight loss goals and just maintaining but realized that losing a few more lbs means more to me than a few extra treats. It really helps that my friends are all into healthy lifestyles and very supportive with my weight loss.
My tip: Since my downfall is alcohol, I usually will drink either sparkling or regular water in a drink glass (vs bottle) with lime, to feel part of the swing of things! (& sometimes I add a shot of vodka 🙂 )
Did I miss your post about where you’re moving?? I’m assuming Tuscon!
i wrote a whole post about it that will go up tuesday morning, but yes, it’s t-town
Such great tips! I think its such a good idea not to start a whole new exercise program during the holidays – that can lead to discouragement, for sure! Soooo ~ have you spilled the beans about where you’ll be moving yet? I’m sooo hoping it’s Tucson (that’s where I live currently!)
(whispers: yes it’s tucson)
I think how you summed it up is perfect. It WILL all balance itself out. And I know when I put too much pressure on myself I end up frustrated and picking up a “What the heck, I screwed up already so I’ll just blow any semblance of health now” attitude. Not good! Best to simply do our best. 🙂
I don’t deprive myself, just keep it in moderation. Getting a walk in is always an awesome plus too!
Love this post! 🙂
This is such a valuable topic to discuss. I’m posting a holiday tip every day this month on my blog.
I think my biggest holiday tip is to do what you love and what makes your body feel good! If you come from that place you will not put undue pressure on yourself, you will indulge but with control and you will be able to focus on the true meaning of this season.
Love this post! I bought Turbofire after I saw your post about it awhile ago and I’m in love with it and Chalene Johnson! She’s so motivational/inspirational! Have you still been keeping up with it? 🙂
p.s. For the peppermint tea, do you heat up almond milk then put the tea bag in it, and no water?
yup i did almost the whole 12 weeks (had to stop for med reasons at the time) and loved every second
i did 1 c almond milk 1/4 c water heated up for 2 minutes, then add the tea bag and stir in the stevia
I love your tips, Gina!
For me, just treating them like any other time of year with the mindset that there is always going to be food in my life (and in the lives of most blog readers, most of us will not go hungry or be in jeopardy of not having enough food to eat. We are all so blessed that way) so just realizing that we dont need to eat everything we see, all at once, like we will never have it or see it again. Having a bite or two, or a piece or two, and then getting that little craving satisfied and moving on.
I posted yesterday about eating everything I made and what my strategy is and how I handle it b/c people always ask me.
And loved your bit about not trying to start a new workout, dietary change, etc..just wait it out til after the holidays are over.
Great post!
(and I hate waiting around…espi in dealerships…such a time waster!)
Glad you got to the mall 🙂
This is an awesome post, Gina, and one I really needed! I am spending two weeks with my boyfriend’s family over the holidays, and I am determined to come home weighing the same that I do now. The problem is my boyfriend’s mom is constantly on a diet and complaining about her weight, and she projects that unhappiness on me a lot of the time–so she’ll serve me much smaller portions than all the boys (everyone else in the fam is male!) and comment frequently on what I am eating. So I eat much less than I should at meals and wind up snacking late at night because I’m starrrrving. Not this year though. 🙂 I think it will help me to keep to a schedule: try to workout at the same time every day, even though it’s vaca.
Thanks for the tips!
It sure is tough to stick to a strict regimen of workouts and healthy eating during the Holidays! Especially since the month of December is filled with traveling, shopping, parties, events, etc!! Great tips!!! I honestly believe everything in moderation. Don’t over indulge but don’t restrict yourself either.
Do you like Turbo Fire?!! I have been thinking about getting it (I have insanity, P90x and Brazil Butt lift but looking for another workout to add into the mix of those). Have you done Chaleane Extreme?! Thats another workout right?!
you will LOVE turbofire if you like kickboxing and dance. chalean extreme is pretty much all weight training- turbo is mostly cardio
Gina I am in love with this post! First thing I do when I wake up = workout! I’ve mentioned it a bunch of times on my blog because it really does put me in a good mood for the rest of the day. I’m still maintaining my diet and exercise, but not stressing over dessert on those special occasions. Eating a salad before going somewhere is the best idea because you never know! Plus you feel good with all those veggies in ya 🙂
Are you moving to Tuscon? Did I miss something? Or are you dropping little hints? Either way, how exciting! Good luck with everything. Love all these tips. I’m trying to drop the rest of last year’s Freshman 15 (I spent my Freshman year in Paris and the food is too good to deny myself) and I tend to get really hung up on an extra drink or sweet. I’m going to try to not kick myself over every little thing and enjoy myself! Thanks!!
I follow all those tips as well! Along with thinking “it’s just another meal”..no need to go overboard! And if you do, get back on track with a morning jog and more healthy meals. Oh..and don’t starve yourself beforehand!!
Great post, I try to treat the holidays like any other time of year also and agree that cheap, store-bought treats aren’t worth it. Like those crap cans of butter cookies and multi flavored that show up all over the place at work. Exercise is an awesome way to manage holiday stress too.
Amazing post Gina! Thanks for the tips!
I generally drink a lot of water and maintain portion control in order to indulge and taste every dish on the menu. I don’t feel guilty celebrating the holidays with family and friends 🙂
Don’t tell me you are moving? Where and when? We need to meet up for roti party. Let me know ASAP!
i’m leaving tuesday morning! what are you doing monday night?
LOVE the tips Gina! You are inspiring to so many – thank you for sharing these! I did a similar post for my clients and classes on healthy holidays, let me know what you think!
http://thecarolineinthecity.wordpress.com/2010/11/20/fearless-fitness-weekly-update-1121-healthy-holiday-tips-tis-the-season-to-stay-fit-and-feel-fabulous/
I just continue to workout as usual and allow myself to eat what I want, which keeps me from overdoing it. As you said, the holidays are about enjoying time with friends and family above anything else. Who wants to waste time freaking out about eating one extra cookie? 😛
great tips!
I say try to stay as balaced with it ALL the bet you can. 🙂 It won’t fail.
I use the same dessert rule too – it helps at work b/c in my office there’s always a fishbowl full of hard candy, and storebought cookies/brownies/cakes… yuck! But if somebody brings in homemade ANYTHING I eat it – everything tastes better when it’s made with love from someone you actually know! 🙂
Moving across country?!?
I am having a meal delivery program sent to me for the 4 weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. With work, shopping, the hubby, and the baby, It’s one less thing for me to stress about!