Tag Archives: indulge

Tuesday Topic: Healthy Holidays

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Hello my beautiful blog people!

I’m unhappy to report that I did, in fact, fall ill to a nasty little bug. My voice has been nonexistent since Saturday morning, which I originally thought was a result of too many drinks the night before, but I’ve developed a cough as well.

Unfortunately for me, one of my December goals was to stay healthy! Booooo. But in my defense, I have been really good about washing my hands and taking extra vitamin C! It just snuck up on me.

Because of this, I thought maybe it was a good time to share a few ways to take care of yourself this holiday season. Some of the tips are geared more toward staying healthy and fit rather than left feeling as bloated as a snowman, but there are a few for taking care of your overall health as well.

1) Exercise regularly

Try to do something active every day, even if it’s as simple as a yoga podcast, walking the dog or shoveling the driveway (or washing the car if you’re in a not-so-snowy place). It will help you feel good and keep your metabolism in check.

2) Indulge, but consciously

‘Tis the season to eat, drink and be merry, but don’t obsess over what you should and shouldn’t have. Have the things you really enjoy, but only take one serving and then move on.

3) Choose healthy foods as much as possible

Whether you’re at a holiday party or just having lunch the day after Christmas, try to fill your plate with mostly fruits and veggies at every meal, and don’t snack on cookies or leftovers just because they’re in the house.

4) Wash your hands

The single most effective way to prevent the spread of germs is sudsing your hands often! It’s also not a bad idea to carry mini-hand sanitizer around with you.

5) Take “me” time

Through all the gift giving and reconnecting with family and friends, don’t forget about yourself during the holidays. Carve out time each day to do something by yourself, like taking a bath or doing your nails… even if it just means taking the long way home.

6) Sleep!!

Especially if you are lucky enough to have time off from work or school around the holidays, do yourself a favor and forgo the alarm as much as possible. Your immune system and your sanity will thank you.

7) Drink fluids, mostly water

WebMD does a pretty good job at explaining the benefits of drinking water, but specifically around the holidays when your lifestyle is a little out of whack, it couldn’t hurt to be a bit more conscious of your fluid intake.

8) Wear form-fitting clothes to parties

Eating a couple of cookies or having a few glasses of wine won’t show, but seconds and thirds at a holiday feast might. Wearing an outfit that flaunts your assets gives you a higher awareness of just how much you’re eating and drinking.

9) Put a cork in social media

Holidays are a time of joy and happiness, and while it’s nice to share a bit on Facebook and Twitter, it is easy to fall victim to the comparison trap in those situations. Enjoy your holiday and don’t worry about what anyone else is doing.

10) Focus on the holiday

If you find yourself counting the calories of all the sugar plums dancing in your head, take a step back, breathe, and remember the real reason for all of the celebrating. It’s important to remember that food is just one part of the celebration.

What are tips you go by to stay healthy during the holiday season?

Healthy Post-Holiday

Aside

I couldn’t help but notice mention of “detoxing” today on Facebook, blogs, the news, etc.

See, I kind of have a problem with this.

On Thanksgiving we find many people piling their plates, saying it’s okay to have second and third helpings, and the next day it’s raw veggies and water only so that they can feel healthy again.

Where’s the balance in that?

I’m not going to say I didn’t enjoy a slice or two of pecan pie on Thanksgiving, but I also made sure to have a serving of every vegetable I saw on the table. And I definitely drank my fair share of wine but I made sure to drink enough water too.

But what I’m trying to say is, even if you didn’t attempt to eat remotely healthy on Thanksgiving, your body is an amazingly well-oiled machine and can put it self back to normal without you depriving it of essential nutrients. Your kidneys and liver (if functioning in a non-diseased state) do a fabulous job of “detoxing” without you even noticing it.

And while I think it’s fair to be a little extra conscious of how much excess sugar you’re consuming or how much water you’re drinking after a holiday, there comes a point when it’s gone too far. Cutting out whole food groups or completely fasting is totally unnecessary.

The definition of healthy, per Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

enjoying health and vigor of body, mind and spirit

You enjoyed those extra calories at the time of consumption probably because you had faith in the fact that your body will eventually find its way back to normalcy. And whether you want to believe it or not, you’re still healthy, even after all the pumpkin pie and dessert wine.

And if you’re over there giving me the stink eye because you think I’m crazy well then so be it, but I personally think it’s healthier to indulge than to deprive.

So instead of a “detox”, what are things you can do to enjoy your health a little more this week?

  • drink more water
  • add a few extra minutes of cardio
  • eat high proteins breakfasts
  • sleep 30 minutes more each night
  • get at least 5 servings of fruit & veggies a day
  • cook your favorite “healthy” dinner

You tell me, what’s something you could do?