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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The best ways I have found to stay on track during the holiday season is to find a workout buddy in my family. My sister and I will get up and run early in the morning together when we’re both home for the holidays. Always easier to stay on track with the buddy system!
I missed yout zumba videos somehow. I’m going to go find them now!
i’m most looking forward to helping my mom health-ify some of our recipes and sneaking them in without my family knowing! as for tips, i’m not the best at controlling myself in the face of never-ending food tables, but usually i can stop myself for a bit by having a piece of gum or taking a walk around the block.
I am looking forward to my grandma’s thanksgiving pies!
During the holidays, I always make sure that there are plenty of delicious veggie options!
I can’t wait for my mom’s stuffing! Colombian stuffing is so much better than American stuffing. 🙂 To keep on track, I just make sure to exercise consistently and try not to eat everything in sight. This is harder than it seems. 🙂
Seriously, you named exactly what I’m looking forward to: cranberry sauce (YUM x 100000), stuffing, and pies – pumpkin, apple, etc. To stay on track, I just drink green smoothies and exercise 3-4 times a week! This is not the time of year to stress about workouts – just do enough to keep your sanity and stay fit! 🙂
We celebrate Hannukah, and I always look forward to latkes (potato pancakes), definitely most excited to make them from scratch. Last year I made sweet potato scallion ones and that were delish! 🙂
I’m sooo excited for the holidays! Even though the tips are oldies but goodies, it’s nice to have a refresher 🙂
I’m so excited to eat my mom’s pear torte and pumpkin cheesecake!
How about “Noteworthy” November? 🙂
I’m looking forward to some pumpkin pie!! I stay fit during the holidays by hiking and taking walks with the family.
I am so looking forward to cranberry sauce, the fresh kind! I can’t stand the out of a can jelly. As for keeping fit, I signed up for the Lavaman Triathlon with Team in Training, so that’s going to keep me honest!
I cannot wait for pumpkin pie (with whipped cream on top. YUM) and homemade cranberry sauce. I love holiday food. I try to stay on track with my workouts though. 5x/week, but I might relax the length of them. It leaves more time for family bonding, and that’s what I enjoy the most during this time of the year.
I love homemade cranberry sauce with orange for Thansgiving–healthy but tastes sooo good!
I bake a ton at Christmas and love giving baked goods as gifts. I always try to make healthy breads to go with the cookies and homemade chocolates. I always allow myself one daily treat during the holidays too. That way I can enjoy, not feel deprived, but not overdue it.
I’m looking forward to trying a new stuffing recipe I found on Peas and Thank You! I always make sure to eat a light supper before holiday parties, so that I’m not tempted at the party
Great advice for the holidays! I love the emphasis on removing pressure, it’s the last thing a girl needs during these next few weeks.
One thing I like to do to help myself, is take a couple of my favorite “healthy” snacks to our family get togethers- that way I always know there is a safe snack, plus I’m treating myself to something that I don’t usually get. I love the holidays 🙂
PS- your tree is so sparkly-pretty 🙂
I’m excited to continue a tradition with my grandmother–baking pies for Thanksgiving and cookies for Christmas! I’m so busy throughout the year with school so I cherish the time we spend together in the kitchen around the holidays.
I can’t wait to see my whole family and to make the 10 pies with my mom the day before. And the stuffing…mmmmm
ahhhhh can NOT wait for the holidays!!! time with family is the best. not to mention the good food too 🙂
The food which I am looking most forward to during the holiday season is stuffing and carrots/rutabaga combo – it has to be my favourite, and the store makes a delic combo of them during the holiday season. I also LOOOVE appetizers, so anything that is spinachy or cheesy is my go to!
For holiday exercise I usually try to work out with family and friends or do some outside activities. Going and getting a tree, and then participating in a snowball fight are some of my favourites. I recently moved to a snowy place so I am definitely going to try and get outdoors and do some winter activities, such as snow shoeing or cross country skiing.
I’m so looking forward to my mom’s chocolate ice box cake. My best tip for staying on track is thinking “all in moderation.” I remind myself that I can’t go crazy on treats, but I can enjoy a few little treats here and there. I also hold out for favorites and don’t waste my time eating junk that’s simply filler.
I always look forward to pies! I have already made 2 apple and can’t wait to eat me some pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving.
Congrats on being awesome and having such an awesome blog!
This holiday season, I’m looking forward to my mom’s sweet potatoes with a light orange glaze, cranberry sauce, and green bean casserole. Nov and Dec can be stressful, so seeing my workouts as an essential stress reliever during a busy season, a gift for myself, is what keeps me motivated day after day. 🙂
I can’t wait for my mom’s green bean casserole! It is so delicious!
I have a weakness for holiday eggnog. I have to be careful cause I seem to drink the stuff like its water. I don’t really have any tips for staying on track, lol. Thats what I’m here for!
My favorite holiday treat is pumpkin pie! I only ever have it around the holidays at my mom’s house, since she makes it vegan for me and I’m too lazy to do that myself any other time of the year.
The way I stay on track during the holiday season is trying new workouts and ways to stay fit.
Definitely looking forward to everything Thanksgiving related…turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie! Try to follow my regular workout schedule to keep myself on track.
I am looking forward to my mom’s pecan and pumpkin pies! I take my dog on extra walks to stay active during the holiday season!
This year more than ever I am excited for my mom’s stuffing, we live 10 hours away from each other and my husband and I just had the first granddaughter of the family. My mom hasn’t seen her in 4 months so it will be an extra special time for us. The tip I use for the holidays is to always get a good workout in early in the morni g so that you dont feel guilty for indulging a little, it also helps to take a family stroll after a long day of eating!
I am looking forward to my mom’s cranberry relish and Gommy’s southern style dressing!! Mmmmm…
I’m looking forward to hosting Thanksgiving for the first time! Can’t wait to try out new, healthier versions of the classics…except for Pumpkin Pie. That would be sacrelig. 🙂
I’m looking forward to pumpkin pie. But, even more than food I’m excited for the smell of the Christmas tree!
I can’t wait for fudge!!! Homemade fudge!!! mmmmm….yummy 🙂
I can’t wait for real homemade stuffing! My biggest tricks are to get sweaty every morning and to make sure I don’t skimp on the veggies, regardless of whatever holiday food I’m enjoying 🙂
My grandma makes these AMAZING cookies that she’s totally slacked on the past couple of years, and my older brother and I got on her case about them last year so I better see those on the dessert tray this year! She also does these AMAZING bars that are chocolate and graham crackers on the bottom, with some kind of meringue-ish/whipped cream topping that’s about two inches thick, haha.
I’m terrible for going overboard and indulging at every holiday event. It’s the desserts that get to me, though. I need to decide ahead of time what’s really going to be worth it to me (realistically, it’s the same kinds of food every year, so I know what to expect) and really savor those few treats. I also need to avoid the little trays of munchies and chips that are on every available surface throughout the day, haha. Those mindless handfuls of food are NOT worth it when there are things that I’ll REALLY enjoy and can’t have the rest of the year.
I’m looking forward to stuffing and pumpkin pie.
Since I often have to fly places for the holidays, I have a really rough time working out. I’m usually in a place where outdoor exercise is not possible, but I can’t get to a gym (think: remote wintery places with no nearby gyms and ice on the ground). I try to pack a cardio DVD so that I can get in a workout without weighing down my suitcase with equipment or spending time/money trying to find a gym!
I am looking forward to Thanksgiving turkey stuffing! I try and fill half of my plate with veggies and one bite each of all the tasty stuff!
I’m waking up early to run a Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving Day… I’ll feel so accomplished after the race that I won’t want to derail my efforts by overstuffing myself on stuffing!
I’m always looking forward to chocolate cake – though I wait until its truly a droolworthy one! No sense wasting time with meh cake.
I can’t wait for the holidays! Driving back from shopping today there is already a station playing Christmas music! I Love it!
I am actually really looking forward to cooking Thanksgiving dinner at our house for the entire family, for the first time! Complete with all the usual Thanksgiving eats but with my healthy spin, such as: baked yams, a to-die-for salad with goat cheese and nuts, cauliflower “mashers”, roasted root veggies, rosemary roasted turkey, and healthy pumpkin pie! I want the fam to enjoy a delicious gourmet meal that they don’t have to feel like they are being “naughty” and know they they are feeding themselves healthy food! I stay on track eating my usual clean eats but with more seasonal ingredients and indulging in some good wine and a little more r & r with the fam, and teaching/practicing yoga to keep me sane through the holidays 🙂
I really love my pies 🙂 I think they’re the best part of any holiday <3 My favourtie is obviously pumpkin pie. I tried making a low sugar/fat one at home, but nothing beats the real thing.
Pumpkin pie is my absolute favorite! Thanksgiving is the only time I eat it so it’s always worth it!
Moderation is key to holiday eating. Just because it’s there, doesn’t mean you need to eat it! Pick small portions if you’re wanting to try a few different things!..or just pick the things you’re absolutely drooling over if you’re wanting your serving to be a bit bigger!
I love going home and having all of my mom’s homecooked meals … just makes it better than it’s holiday food – stuffing, turkey, corn pudding, etc. One tip for staying on track: moderation and making sure you stay active!
I absolutely love the smells that come from the kitchen and the aroma that fills the house during the holidays. I am absolutely looking forward to raspberry Jell-O pretzel salad (that’s a mouthful!), and sweet potato casserole. The holidays aren’t fun if you don’t let yourself indulge a little bit!
I can’t wait for the desserts!!!!! I am a veggie so I’ll pass on turkeys and ham but I can’t wait for pumpkin pie and Xmas cookies! Yum mm!
I like to go for a walk with my family after a meal-it gets you away from the table and gets the blood flowing!
Holidays are so nice now 🙂 I’ll never forget when I was a teen and I had to wear a back brace for scoliosis, halfway through thanksgiving or christmas dinner I’d always have to take it off- think of loosening your belt buckle times a million! 😛
Im looking forward to pumpkin pie and a family hike through the woods:)
I love my mom’s home made cranberry bread that she makes for Thanksgiving and my fiancee’s apple pie. I try to fill up on veggies at dinner so I don’t eat quite SO much dessert.
I agree it’s really important to focus on the homemade desserts. I avoid all the packaged stuff that my co-workers bring into the office, it’s just not worth it.