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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I love stuffing and mashed potatoes (no gravy – blech). Personally, I always do a Turkey Stuffer 5K the morning of Thanksgiving so I end up running about 6 miles with warm up, the race and cool down before I head off to my grandparents’ house. I also try to take a walk after dinner rather than just sitting all day. But I still try to enjoy it and not go too crazy on filling my plate. The days are over when I would be uncomfortably stuffed after turkey dinner.
I also think black friday shopping can be good to wake up early and do a lot of walking. I often end up not buying much, but enjoy being out among the crowds.
My family is from the south and they always make a great spread for the holidays, so I am looking forward to all the things i definitely don’t eat regularly: macaroni and cheese, collard greens, peach cobbler, and red velvet cake!
My tip to stay on track is to keep up with my regular workout schedule, especially an early morning run followed by some yoga. Its a great way to get my endorphins up and also help cope with the holiday stress!
It’s cliche, but I am really looking forward to seeing my family! There are some family members I only get to see once a year, for the holidays. Very excited!
For Thanksgiving it’s pumpkin pie; Christmas it’s my grandmother’s french cake that she makes every year! Can’t wait can’t wait can’t wait 🙂
In the meantime, I’ve signed up for a Turkey Trot 5k on Thanksgiving that I’m excited to keep in shape for!
I love Thanksgiving! I am really looking forward to stuffing and candied yams. I also can not wait for the cheesy spinach and mushroom casserole my mom makes for me since I really do not like the standard green bean casserole.
luckily for me, basketball practices keep me moving throughout the holiday season, so even if i splurge a little bit here and there, it doesn’t affect me too much. although, i still enjoy swapping out healthy recipes for the “old fashioned, high fat, butter laden” ones (:
I’m most looking forward to my boyfriend’s mom’s panes de pollo (chicken sandwiches)! Last year was my first time trying it, and it was love at first bite. I tried to eat 3 in one sitting and man oh man, was I FULL. I’ll try to restrain myself this year, but no promises.
My healthy tip: find a workout/exercise you enjoy! CrossFit makes me feel good so I want to go back the next day 🙂
I love all things PUMPKIN!!
btw, I’m sure you look AMAZEBALLS 😀
One of my favorite parts about the holidays is my marathon cookie baking sessions with my mom. We bake almost the entire day and it’s just a blast. This year, I’m also cooking my first Thanksgiving dinner for my family, which I’m super excited about!
I’m looking forward to the day after thanksgiving sandwich – turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and a little bit of gravy. It happens once a year! As far as staying on track, I just try to stick to my regular exercise routine. Things can get crazy around the holidays but keeping up with regular workouts (even if it feels like I don’t have time) help me feel less stressed.
I love my mom’s pumpkin roll – or anything pumpkin-y for that matter! I usually try to stay on track but taking small amounts of everything and not overindulging – its all about moderation, right? (so much easier said than done 🙂
I love all the pumpkin goodies, but I really need to watch out for all the eggnog coffees I drink. I just try to watch what I eat otherwise.
My dad’s stuffing, hands down!
Holidays are an easy time of year for me as I’m vegetarian. The problem is the rest of the year with all the yummy spring and summer foods that reappear for me!
Can I tell you how much I love this post?!?! It’s good to hear someone say that, yes, it is okay to enjoy the holiday foods in moderation! I always look forward to the foods this time of year, but I limit myself to the really special things, and I keep working out. I’m not going to deprive myself, but I’m not going to let myself gain 10 pounds either!
If I win, I might cry a little..haha.
I’m most looking forward to cookies (and cookie exchanges, which is nice so you can get a variety without having a ton of cookies laying around). I totally agree with previous posters who mentioned the best way to stay on track is to stick to your routine as much as possible.
I love both Thanksgiving and Christmas. I look forward to the cookies at Christmas, and all the pies, casseroles and delicious food at Thanksgiving. I don’t really have any tips for staying on track, besides just limiting portions and trying to squeeze in as much exercise as possible! I still love to indulge, but try to watch how MUCH I indulge.
Yay for holidays! I agree that’s it’s no time to be too obsessed with calories and exercise. Just be sensible about it. I like the idea of eating the things you REALLY look forward to and leave the rest. Life is way too short and precious to fret about a whole-I mean piece- of grandma’s pie that you ate during the holidays. 🙂
Thanksgiving is 2 days before my wedding this year, so I know I won’t be enjoying very many treats, but the one thing I WILL hold out for is Emeril Lagasse’s spinach and brie stuffing that I make every year!
I’m looking forward to mashed potatoes, gravy, and stuffing! I try to keep my portion sizes in check, remember that the holidays are only 1 day (not months), and splurge on what I really like..,not everything!!
I look forward to my step mothers brussels sprouts and my Aunt’s sweet potato casserole. I can make both but it taste soooo much better on Thanksgiving day ” when they” make it (:
I try to stick with my workout routine. If I stick with my routine I tend to feel better which leads to healthier eats!!!
I am looking forward to a family friend’s homemade sugar cookies and chocolate-covered peanut butter balls on Christmas Eve. I dream about them all year long!
I try to have a healthy snack before going to a party or out to eat, so I’m not starving and overdo it when I arrive.
I lovvvee reindeer mix. trail mix covered in white chocolate. yumm!
I cant wait for my mom’s stuffing and mashed potatoes!!! And taking a nap on the living room floor with my sisters. 🙂
Great advice even though we’ve all heard, it’s nice to be reminded and to refocus… It’s very easy for me to throw treats around the office or at home in my mouth and not even realize it.
My biggest problem over the holidays – being home for college break and spending all day snuggling with my two dogs!! Solution to the problem: I walk them every day! It let’s me still get my puppy time in (since I miss having pets at school so much!) but gives me the cardio I need so I don’t sit on the couch and eat my Grandma’s homemade dessert all day.
Treat I can’t wait for: My Grandma’s secret “Pink Stuff”. It’s a Thanksgiving special. Think, homemade, creamy, cool whip, strawberry ice cream. It’s INCREDIBLE! I’m attempting to steal the recipe this year 🙂
I love the sweet potato casserole that my sister’s mother-in-law makes. Yum! I try to stay motivated to work out, but sometimes it’s ok to not work out all the time, and just enjoy the holiday 🙂
I’m going to try treat each holiday as just the DAY that it is….no feasting like it’s Thanksgiving every day for two weeks and same thing for Christmas! I’m fine with splurging, but I need to set some boundaries for myself before going into the holidays. I’m also hoping to sign up for a 5k on Thanksgiving day which I think will help with my motivation!
I have lost sixty pounds this year… 🙂 I have never mentioned it here, but it has been a labor of love…I have always been “bigger” and this is my first holiday as a smaller, in-shape chica! (Funny how I started losing weight after I started reading Fitnessista…hmmmm!)
I work out every day, and my husband likes big meals around the holidays… I look forward to stuffing, squash, all the fun stuff that goes with the turkey. This year, i’ll be making sure to sneak in an extra thirty minutes of cardio in the morning (I usually work out at night, so this will be different); more water and high-fiber snacks to avoid over-doing it when treats are around; and mostly remembering that the holidays are about fun, not regrets.
So treating myself, in moderation, will be key. 🙂
I can’t wait for green bean casserole! In fact, I actually made it this week because I’m so excited for it. 🙂 My tips for staying in shape during the holidays are getting out of bed and working out first thing, so even if you do indulge later, you know you’ve made a healthy choice that day. And who knows- maybe that healthy mindset will keep you from eating too much green bean casserole? 😉
I absolutely cannot wait for pumpkin pie. Anyone have a fail-safe vegan recipe for me?? This year I promised myself a morning run for both Thanksgiving (Trot for Hunger 5K) and Christmas. An early run, especially one that I paid for, helps keep me on track throughout the rest of the day.
OOOOOooo fiberone and a stability ball! would love it!
I always look forward to stuffing. The stuff is sooo good, but only during the holidays. Try eating it in the summer and it just isn’t any good! I also love love love apple cider. My biggest tip to myself is remembering how hard it was starting my workouts again after slacking. It was such a mental challenge and I don’t want to go through that again, so I’m just not going to stop the goodness!
What an awesome giveaway!! I am looking forward to my grandma’s apple pie and homeade stuffing. She makes everything from scratch and you can feel the love in her cooking! One way I stay on track during the holiday season is on Thanksgiving morning I run the Turkey Trot that benefits infants remembered in silence and also take classes at the gym that I avoided during the summer! I am anxious to try Zumba after seeing your videos!
I think moderation is key..I love enjoying a home-cooked meal and dessert, but I try as much as possible to stick with my exercise routine during the holidays.
Definitely cranberry sauce and stuffing!!!!!!!
I am really looking forward to my mom’s homemade cranberry sauce. I think by biggest trick to staying on track is to just try and remain as active as possible. Walking around the mall gets me in the holiday spirit and also is a great way to burn extra calories.
growing up, i was never too fond of the main thanksgiving dishes. i really loved the rolls and the vegetables- roasted with a little salt and olive oil. we had treehouse sleepovers with all my cousins afterwards. now that i’m in college, i’m not sure what i’ll do! i’ll be running my first ultramarathon a few days before thanksgiving, so i’ll have to think of some way to celebrate!
In one word : balance – just like everything in life – is always the key! 🙂
I’m looking forward to the chance to spend time doing “nothing” with family and the feeling of being spoiled by letting others do the cooking!
ooh, what a great giveaway! one of my ways I (attempt to) keep myself on track for the holidays is only indulging in things that are worth it. turkey is delicious, but it’s not special to me – pecan pie is another story 😉
My tip is the same as one of yours…Only indulge when its really worth it (for me its usually homemade goodies!), I’m not even tempted by the packaged stuff. And don’t let one treat or meal get you off track, get right back on the next day!
I’m looking forward to pie on Thanksgiving!
Gina, reading your post on how to stay healthy during the holidays really does seem like common sense, doesnt it?
Well for me, i went most of my childhood, teenage yrs and 20’s , eating through each and every holiday with avengance, bingeing on every dessert and dish possible, and always ending with ” Starting Jan. 1st this is going to change”…. clearly, that didnt happen. This past summer, i had a serious health scare with forced me to be on heavy medications, and stop trying for a baby. I am 30 yrs old, and having my baby plans haulted like this has put my life into a completely new perspective.
In the past several months, we had Canadian thanksgiving, along with the most recent halloween, and for the first time i can even remember, it wasnt about the food for me. i didnt inhale everything in sight, i actually ate in moderation. i guess in a round about way, this scare of mine has helped me have a true change of heart about my health, and allowing me to get into tip top shape before trying again.
I wish you only the very best in your journey, i truly admire you and your attitude towards health and now your fantastic outlook with your pregnancy 🙂
I love Shape and would love to be entered! Thanks for those tips, it’s so true that they are always the same – there is no magic bullet – but we need to find what works for ourselves in terms of motivation and discipline. Appreciate it!
The interview sounds amazing!
I’m looking forward to making Christmas cookies! Although I think I get so wrapped up in making them that I don’t eat as many as you’d think. My husband, on the other hand…
Gina,
I stumbled on your blog last weekend and I’m hooked. I am also a Zumba instructor here in NC – I really loved the post from yesterday! What was the name of the two songs – I would love to show my class the songsI learned from a pregnant instructor! (They won’t believe me)
Thanks for the tips on staying fit during the holidays. I always end up attending 2-3 Thanksgiving meals, as both my boyfriend and I have family in the area. I totally agree with you – the dessert has to be homemade or it really is not worth it!
Thanks for your inspiring words and tips on fitness!
I cannot wait to eat some thanksgiving stuffing! YUM! my mouth is watering right now as I think about it! My best advice for staying healthy during the holiday season is to get your workout in early before the days festivities with friends and family has started! great giveaway by the way 🙂
My favorite holiday treat is definitely homemade PIE. But since I’m not much of a baker, it’s usually someone else’s. 🙂 This year, I’m trying to psyche myself up for making my own pie crust from scratch! I find it really intimidating and I’ve only ever done it once before, with a baking buddy’s supervision. I’m feeling gutsy this season so I’m going at it solo, eeeeeeeek!