For many people, the holidays bring joy, relaxation and rejuvenation. Unfortunately, they also tend to bring a few extra pounds. Delicious food, Hallmark movies and extra time to laze around can spell disaster for your waistline. If you’re worried about heading back to normal life with a new “spare tire,” here are five preventative ways to stay healthy and fit during the holidays.
- Maintain Daily Activity
It’s always nice to relax when you have time off work, but try to maintain your normal daily exercise routine. If you don’t want to exercise first thing in the morning during your holiday break, that’s OK. Just make sure you squeeze some type of meaningful activity into your day before bedtime. That way you can help combat the annual battle of the bulge that occurs for most people at the end of the year.
- Stay Hydrated
It’s hard to stay hydrated during the winter months, especially since you tend to feel less thirsty than you are in the summertime. That’s why so many people get dehydrated in the winter without even realizing it. Since water is an essential component of immune function, it’s important to keep a close eye on your hydration levels. If you do become dehydrated, you may want to look into hydration injection therapy from Newport Medical and Wellness Center. It’s a quick and effective way to boost your body’s hydration, electrolytes and nutrient levels.
- Indulge Sparingly
It’s OK to indulge in sweets and drinks during the holidays, but limit your indulgence to just a few days instead of the entire months of November and December. Mark down your indulgence days in your calendar, just as you would any other appointment. Then, stick to your normal healthy eating and exercise plans every other day. This is the perfect way to still feel like you’re able to enjoy yourself more than normal, without completely derailing all of the progress you’ve made throughout the year in a single season.
- Get Sufficient Sleep
Don’t make the holidays an excuse to consistently stay up late every night. Insufficient sleep can make you tired, cranky, and more likely to become ill. To keep this from happening, make sure you stick to a fairly normal sleep schedule. The occasional late-night party may disrupt this schedule, but you should be able to recover from those nights as long as you do your best to get at least seven hours of sleep every other night.
- Give Away Extra Sweets
If you’re the type of person who loves to bake cakes, cookies and pies during the holidays, give yourself an escape plan so you aren’t stuck with all the leftovers. One great way to rid yourself of excess sweets is by giving them away to friends and neighbors. That way you can still bake to your heart’s content without being tempted by plate-loads of treats sitting on your countertop. Plus, you’ll feel good about serving others, so it’s a win-win situation.
Though many people gain weight over the holidays, you don’t have to. By following these simple tips, you can stay healthy, fit and happy this season and beyond.
