Staying on Track {Giveaway}
*******This giveaway has already ended. Stay tuned for more!
Hey everyone! How was your day?
I was blown away by all of your awesome comments and sweet compliments on the Zumba videos. Even though it’s a little more challenging than it usually is, I still love teaching so.so much. Dancing makes me happy and is one of the few things that feels good right now, so I’m sticking with it as long as I can. Maybe I can plan some “let’s take a Zumba class” meet-ups when I get back into the traveling thing 🙂
Last night, while nana, madre and I were shopping, I couldn’t believe that all of the Christmas decor was already up. It’s like retail skips right past Halloween into Christmas, which I love, but it just seems so early this year. Just another excuse to get the tree up before Thanksgiving, eh?
[Our 2009 tree]
Holidays are definitely already on the brain for many people, and it was the topic for this morning’s conference call.
After I posted this morning’s post, I hopped on a video conference with the Shape Magazine Senior Associate Lifestyle Editor. The funny thing is that I woke up a little earlier so I could brush my hair and look semi-human, but we could just see and hear her, no one else could see us.
The funny thing is that if I would have zombie-d it, it would have been set up where everyone else could see me. Isn’t that how it always works out?
Anyway,
the video chat was fantastic. The speaker was Bahar Takhtehchian, and she discussed her favorite tips for staying on track during the holidays. She was a joy to listen to, but I couldn’t help but think “I’ve heard all of these tips before. I hope she shares a secret awesome trick I can share with my readers.” But the truth is, the methods to staying on track during the holidays are really all things we’ve heard before. Just like healthy living in general: the idea behind it is simple, but the execution is where it can get tricky.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the things she discussed, along with my own tips in brackets:
-You can still enjoy the holidays while maintaining your fitness and health accomplishments- treats are ok! [I am a huge believer in treating yourself! The only time we can run into challenges is when we tend to celebrate holidays over and over and over again. If it’s Thanksgiving, live it up- but after that holiday, get back into the usual swing of things]
-Make important choices during the day. Enjoy a satisfying breakfast with a combo of whole grains and protein- choose foods that will fill you up and keep snacking at bay. As far as lunch goes, choose something like salad, broth-based soups, salad, whole-grain sandwich (hummus or avocado instead of mayo), and keep lunch lighter since those who are at work are unable to nap after lunch and digest a large amount of food. [I also like to enjoy something healthy before going out to a party, such as some soup or a large salad. This way, I know that I’ve had some veggies and nutrients before the party, and don’t arrive ready to stuff the buffet table into my face]
-Go for healthy snacks, as they keep blood sugar stable and rev the metabolism. Some good choices: fruits, nuts and yogurt. [Amazeballs, egg puffs, smoothies, small salads, veggies and hummus, banana or apple + almond butter, deli meat or tempeh rolled up with some goat cream cheese, Larabars]
-Aim to get enough fiber. Women need 25g per day and men need 38g. Not only does it help with satiety, it can help to prevent disease.
-Stay hydrated (avoid caffeine since it has a dehydrating effect, and we can easily mistake thirst for hunger). Take H2O in a bottle with you, or flavor it with some lemon zest [I also like to add fresh berries, cucumber, mint, or orange slices to add some flavor]
-Keep moving! Use the mall for cardio, walk and chat with a friend (extremely beneficial in such a technology-focused environment), find a class you love (an instructor who inspires you, amazing music make all the difference), work out with a buddy who will motivate you to reach your goals, make small changes.
-Choose wisely and don’t overdo it.
When it comes to the holidays, I really think it’s important to remove pressure from yourself as far as working out and eating perfectly. The holidays aren’t a time to go on a crazy diet or set some lofty fitness goals- it’s a time to kick back, relax and enjoy family, friends and the season. I think that it’s much easier to stick to what you want to achieve when you’re willing to cut yourself some slack. Enjoy dessert, just don’t enjoy it every single day at every chance you get –treats are everywhere, from now until New Year’s. I’ll usually go for the ones that are really *worth it* like my nana’s Bundt cake, or my other nana’s Thanksgiving pies. If it came from a factory, it’s not worth it to me.
[Thanksgiving table of dessert justice]
As far as cocktails go, I don’t really have to worry about that this year, but usually I’ll go for something clear with club soda, a beautiful cocktail or fancy pants glass of wine and savor it.
As far as fitness goes, if you’re running short on time, go for a quick and effective workout. HIIT is one of my faves- 20 minutes and you’ll torch a ton of calories and have a higher afterburn effect throughout the rest of the day. For weights, choose compound movements that work more than one muscle group at a time (like lunges with a bicep curl or overhead press).
Definitely look for the forest, not the trees, and in the grand scheme of things, if you’re *mostly* sticking to your usual habits, a few extras here and there are NBD.
What holiday meal/treat are you most looking forward to? What’s one of your tips for staying on track during the holiday season?
I cannot wait for Thanksgiving. Cranberry sauce, stuffing and pie… and I’m drooling.
When you leave a comment, you’ll be entered to win an amazing prize pack from Shape magazine:
-a one-year subscription to Shape magazine
-a yoga mat
-a stability ball
-a pedometer
-box of Fiber One Brownies
See ya in the morning with 10 Ways to Make November Gnarly <— help me with this title? haha
xoxo
Gina
**************************This giveaway has ended as of 11/3 12:01 AM EST. Stay tuned for more fun giveaways in the near future!
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My absolute favorite part of the holiday meals is the homemade roasted butternut squash soup I make every year for Thanksgiving! I was able to get my pickiest family members to try (and love) squash! My soon to be favorite will be the individual pizookies I intend on serving for Thanksgiving dessert!
To stay on track during the holidays I try not to stress too much, remember that time with family is the most important thing and that the gym will be there tomorrow.
I am such a fan of holiday desserts! Any type of Christmas sweet is a-ok with me. My local gym offers a Thanks-Mas-EVe Body Challenge. As long as you maintain your weight throughout the holiday’s you get your money back for the enrollment free and a free water bottle. Free stuff is enough to make me stay on track!
I’m really looking forward to my grandma’s sweet potato casserole. She doctors up a packaged one and it’s absolutely delicious!
I love sweet potato casserole! Also, I try to maintain my usual workouts and up the intensity after a day of heavy eating.
I love some kind of decadent chocolate dessert — I always bake new recipes I’ve had marked for a while that fit the holiday season. For the main course, I love some good scalloped potatoes. And turkey, gravy, and homemade rolls. As far as staying on track… I accept the fact that I will probably be eating more and that I don’t have to overcompensate in my workouts. I keep running and lifting, and as long as I chose quality over quantity, I think I’ll be OK.
10 ways to make november…. nifty ; ) ? hahaha
Also, I’ve been looking into the Floradix iron supplement as well because no matter how much sleep/rest I get I’m always feeling tired lately, and was wondering if an iron supplement will help me. Do you think its working for you, or too early to tell? I’m a junior in college, so I’ve got a lot on my plate/always running around but I seem more tired than normal lately!
Thanks,
Stephanie
I am really looking forward to christmas cookies!!
Honestly, I love the appetizers at T-giving and Christmas. I love potatoes (‘regular’–not sweet) and so I always like the potato sides at T-giving and xmas. I just try to stay on track with my usual schedule–I’ll do a run in the morning of T-giving or xmas. I’ve also (finally!) gotten into at home video workouts which save a lot of time when things get crazy.
my mom makes these fabulously AMAZING peanutbutter/chocolate bars! 🙂 I’m sure a lot of people do but they are my fav! 🙂
I’m really just looking forward to the turkey and cabbage rolls! I really could so without the treats! 🙂
I plan on staying on track by not letting the holidays derail my training plans! 🙂 and setting a good example for my daughter by not indulging in every sweet that is put out there!
Maintain exercise during the holidays! And enjoy time with your family and friends!
I am most looking forward to my grandmas collards!!! so amazinggg! My tip is just to keep everything in moderation and just keep up with my daily workouts!
I can’t wait for the Christmas cookies! My favorite part of the holidays are all of the desserts and cookie exchanges.
I love thanksgiving!!! Sweet potatoes and stuffing are my favorite..yumm!! To stay on track I always try to keep up with my workouts…even fitting one in thanksgiving morning!
I can’t wait for pumpkin pie! Oooh, and mashed potatoes. And leftovers! I think a good tip for staying on track during the holidays is to fill up by snacking on the veggie tray-you can have as much as you want and wont feel guilty about it later! Plus, veggies are super filling so by the time the big meal rolls around you wont be as tempted to chow down on everything in sight.
I am most looking forward to fat free vegan kitchens double pumpkin cheesecake. I can seriously eat a whole one myself over a few days. I’ve been thinking about it for months and can’t wait to make it over the holidays!
My favorite holiday tips is bringing a healthier dish. I started doing this when I was in high school!
Another tip. Indulge and don’t beat yourself up! That I think is the best. In my professional opinion from what I have seen with clients over the years…you do best when you allow yourself treats and don’t feel like you need to kill yourself to enjoy it. Most of the time if you have a day where you eat a little too much sugar, your body craves fresh salads or healthier foods and you just WANT to get in the gym. Not because you feel like you need to burn it off necessarily, but just because your body is getting back on track. That’s normal eating in my opinion! Some days you will over eat [usually on holidays too] and others you will eat much lighter!
I’m looking forward to BAKING up some yummy treats and want to try out pumpkin cheesecake or pumpkin cream cheese truffles…Tips for staying on track during the holidays? Savor and enjoy the foods that you only get a chance to eat at this time of year!
Thanks so much for all these great tips! I’m looking forward to enjoying pumpkin cheesecake and mashed potatoes.
Thankfully, Thanksgiving is the first week in October in Canada, so it doesn’t feel like two months of eating!
My Aunt’s carrot casserole!!!
I look forward to my mom’s made-from-scratch Thanksgiving. Every potato, gravy, sauce, bread, and pie are made that day or the night before. We all wait patiently at home for her to finally say, “Dinner is ready!” There is no resisting the temptation for seconds and a little sliver of each type of pie. Mmm, it’s heavenly! 🙂 Ps. Your tree was just gorgeous!
My favorite holiday foods are sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie (I just tried it for the first time and I cannot get enough), my uncle’s stuffing, and making (and eating) homemade christmas cookies with my family. I love to bake and cook so I also look forward to whatever fun thing I decide to make for Thanksgiving dessert and Christmas breakfast.
I stay on track/try to stay on track during the holidays by always eating breakfast. If I get too hungry then I tend to eat A LOT more than I normally would have. No depriving myself of healthy nutrients!
The treats I am most looking forward to are my mom’s stuffing and her amazing cheesecake.
The best tip I have for staying on track during the holidays is moderation. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, so it’s worth it to me to splurge a bit. I just make sure to go right back into healthy habits after the holiday.
I Love Love Love roasted parsnips! And nut roast and gravy…
I am looking forward to my mother’s sausage stuffing. I play football for an hour after dinner so I can eat it. Also- to stay on track, I try to drink lots of water and eat only things that I know I don’t get year round. So, such as a dinner roll, that isn’t a treat when I have access to it all the time. My mom’s stuffing? Not so much.
Favorites: I heart Christmas cookies. All of them. We’re big holiday bakers, and my grandpa has this sugar cookie recipe that is nothing short addicting.
Outlook: I eat something sweet each day and exercise regularly throughout the year – everything in moderation is my motto – so I just enjoy the time to bake and be around family. I only get to visit once or twice a year, so I’m just focused on spending quality time with them.
I cannot wait for my sister in law’s amazing baked brie. Delicious, warm, ooey gooey brie baked with cranberry sauce and stuffed in pillsbury dough. I die.
My one trick to staying on track throughout the holidays is to find fun races that everyone in the family can get involved with. This Thanksgiving, my dad, uncles, aunts, and I are running in a fun run called “Run for Pi”. The race is 3.14 miles long and at the end, everyone gets pie!
I’m already excited for LOTS of stuffing and mashed potatoes! And all of the desserts, of course. 🙂
I am the type that actually does just fine at the holidays. I try to spend my time enjoying friends and family, more so than the food. I definitely eat, but try a little of the items that really looks good to me. If there is anything that I really indulge in it is a piece of warm apple pie, or pumpkin with lots of cool whip! =)
Great giveaway! I love Shape and am a little ashamed to admit that my yoga mat is as old as it is 😉
~Christie
Those are some amazing tricks to stay in shape!! And that is one killer giveaway!
Looking forward to my mom’s fruit salad and my auntie’s mac n cheese! So good!
I am a sucker for stuffing. Yum! I am also really looking forward to baking. I love kneading bread dough!
I am sooo looking forward to going home to Minneapolis!! I only get home about twice a year so it is really special. One way I keep on track is a I go cross-country skiing with my dad! And get a temporary gym membership while I’m home. While I love my family, it is really important I have a space I can get some me-time and work out some stress on the treadmill. : )
My favorite treat is Thanksgiving stuffing, but I always make up for it with a big family hike the day after :). Thanks Gina!
I’m mainly looking forward to spending time with family, I could actually care less about the food as long as my family is there 🙂 We recently had some very unexpected deaths in our family, and since we’re all spread out across the country, it will just be nice to all be together during the holidays
This is a great post and an amazing giveaway! Everything in moderation 🙂
I’m looking forward to my mom’s mac and cheese on Christmas! My family usually has it on Thanksgiving too, but I won’t be able to go home for Thanksgiving (stupid law school finals). I think your laid back approach to diet/fitness during the holidays is the perfect mindset to have!
I definitely think the biggest thing to do during the holiday season is to continue with your normal workout schedule! So many people fall off the fitness wagon as the holidays role around.
avoiding loose fitting clothing so that you’re less likely to over eat 🙂 and definitely looking forward egg nog!
I am most looking forward to seeing my family that I don’t get to see as often anymore since the husband and I moved a few hours away for his med school. The FOOD treat I am most looking forward to is STUFFING (and gravy)…YUM! One of things I am going to do to stay on track is to substitute un-healthy ingredients for healthier ones and keep working out! Walks before or after dinner with the pups/family too 🙂
My best way to stay on track is keep my routine of working out every morning and healthy eating during the holiday season … with the occasional treat of course! I love your blog!!!!
Great tried and true tips. I personally love and will not miss out on my dad’s Christmas day english muffin sandwiches. They have fried egg and cheese, sausage for the meat eaters… and veggie sausage for the veggies, like me! The spell Christmas, and are such a family tradition. It’s almost worth skipping through presents for 🙂
i am looking forward to delicious pie!! this year i’m bringing some vegan to the dinner table 😉
Good tips to keep in mind! Thanks for sharing.
The holidays only come around once a year so it’s best to enjoy it with fun, family.. and of course food.
The holiday treat I am most looking forward to: Anything pumpkin and warm cocoa
Tips to help get through the holidays:
1.Getting a quick workout in before a large meal, you will eat less and if you do indulge a bit you won’t feel so guilty
2. Opt for large portions of colourful vegetables and less starchy, sweet foods.
3. Keep checking fitnessista.com for inspiring posts 😀
I am looking forward to homemade pie by my husbands grandma. They are always so yummy! I am going to try and keep working out as usual and find other ways to add in movement besides working out.
I’m most looking forward to the apple crisps! You can easily make them into a healthy treat. And to stay on track, I keep doing my workouts. Nothing beats running outside on a crisp day 🙂
Cranberry sauce is one of my favorite foods of the holidays!
I can’t wait for Christmas cookies! Love Love anything with peppermint in it!!! mmmmmm yummy!
I know the key to keeping in shape in the holidays is moderation but it’s so hard when you only eat yummy food like in thanksgiving once a year! I also agree with you that treats from factories are totally not worth it.