Hello ladies and gents!
Today I have the lovely Emily Stone guest-posting on my blog! Relax, and enjoy:
5 Ways to Keep the Holiday Season Healthy
At this year’s holiday parties, you probably won’t see me camped out at the dessert table. No, I’ve got a better plan. The bowl of mixed nuts is mine, you hear? That might seem a little aggressive, but the holidays can be a horrible time for weight gain. If I want a healthier holiday season, I have to be reasonable. That doesn’t mean I can’t indulge, but I have to prepare for it so January won’t hit me like a truck.
1. Plan Ahead. Everywhere I go at this time of year there is a deluge of sweet treats to tempt me. If I plan to expect these treats, I can find ways to subvert them. I keep healthy but sweet and filling snacks in my car, and I make sure to eat regular meals. That way, if someone offers me a dessert, I can have a bite or two, and not eat half the pan. I have workouts ready to go, as well. I maintain a program of easy exercises on my smartphone that I can perform almost anywhere (think squats, calf raises, wall sits) and I keep a bag of exercise clothes in my car.
2. Rest Well. Ugh, who can sleep when there’s so much to do? Not most moms. When I had my first child, I swore that I would never lose sleep for presents and holiday parties. This has paid off. Not only do I avoid that haggard, exhausted look that most people get around the holidays, but I also cannot procrastinate. As a result, my holiday shopping is usually done by mid-November, with presents ready to hand out just after Thanksgiving. Sleep gives me energy that no amount of caffeine can adequately replace. I take it seriously.
3. Make It Healthy. As an amateur cook and baker, I have learned to make a few healthy ingredient exchanges. For example, butter. It’s good in small quantities, but that does not mean I can slather it on. In many recipes, mashed ripe bananas or applesauce will replace butter. Extra-virgin coconut oil is another fantastic alternative. It’s a saturated fat, but considered healthier than butter since it is a medium-chain fatty acid. When I first started using it, I was amazed by the flavor and texture that coconut oil contributes to my cookies and cakes. It’s light and delicious, without drying out the crumb the way butter can.
5. Go For Fullness. Rolls, cookies and cake breads, oh my! All it is, my friends, is carbohydrate overload. When I see a luscious spread in front of me, the temptation is go right to the brownies and the fudge. But step away from the sugar! When I hear temptation calling, I load up on protein. I add a scoop of protein powder into my morning fruit smoothie and it keeps me feeling full for hours, plus it helps to keep the sweet cravings at bay.
6. Detox. After my blood sugar has got back to normal after Thanksgiving, it’s time to go into detox mode. Despite the inclination to just eat my way through to New Year’s Day, I want to avoid the holiday weight slump. However, I also don’t like the “liquid only” type of cleanses. I recently ordered, and started, the reset cleanse from Beachbody to fill in the gap between Thanksgiving & Christmas. It’s a 3-week detox so it fit into my schedule perfectly and I’ll be finished (and hopefully feeling great) just in time for Santa’s arrival.
The holidays are wonderful, but they take a toll on my health. If you want to lose or maintain weight this season, like I do: plan ahead and minimize the diet damage.
Emily Stone is a proud stay at home mom, a dedicated wife, and a wanna-be fitness freak. Emily left her full-time writing career to pursue her career as a full-time mom and she’s been loving every minute of it! Emily is in the process of starting up her own blog, but for now you can find her at @FitMommaEm
Thank you, Emily!
If you want to be a guest blogger on here, just shoot me an e-mail!
Check out my amazing sponsor:
I always head straight for the carbs. Rolls, bread, muffins, bagels. I am going to try to avoid them this year... yeah right :)
ReplyDeleteSame here! :I just love carbs... Especially holiday carbs lol
DeleteThanks for the wonderful information
ReplyDeleteGreat article
ReplyDeleteGreat post!!
ReplyDeleteI just came across your blog!! I am now following! I look forward to keeping up and getting to know you more!
xo
Christina
http://www.christinawhoblog.com