Your Holiday Survival Guide: Strategies to Stay Healthy and Enjoy the Holidays!

Soldier, it’s Christmas time. Cookies are coming atcha from the left, you gotta flank right. Your’re gonna be with family all day reminding you you’re in your 30’s and you haven’t had a baby and there’re lots of beer in the house. Oh someone brought cheesecake- I muuuuuust have some…

Holiday minefields are all around us trying to sabbatoge our plans for a healthy holiday. So here I am bring you some great strategies that have worked well for me and others for holiday gatherings.

So let’s start!

Pregame workout

You know what’s coming: the piles of food, the mountains of beer and the fountains of wine. So here’s what you do… get a killer kick ass playlist. Put in your head phone and work it out! Take a run, lift some weights, dance around your living room… I don’t care what it is JUST MOVE!

Get to the gym as much as possible and burn for some of them eating sins, for there will be plenty of them!

I made you guys this “Determined to Kick Ass” playlist on Spotify. It’s awesome and always makes me feel fierce! 

Never leave hungry

I know you think you’re saving some calories leaving the house without eating, but you’re not. The binge of food and drink you will consume will more than make up for the meals you skipped.

Well I’m sure you’ve heard of hanger. That anger that comes from being hungry. Well it does exist and that won’t mix well with family.  

Hungry goggles are a thing too. Like beer goggles, everything seems to taste better and you make really bad food decisions when wearing those hunger goggles. Like damn this stove top is the shit, I need more and more and more and… Where’s the antacids??!

A Little Veggie Foreplay

Even if you see a mountain of tempting foods, always start with veggies. Just do it! Why? Eating veggies to start does a few things for you. Firstly you’ll be filling yourself up and also getting in some good fiber and nutrition. Think of it this way, lay down a foundation of healthiness in your stomach before you start polluting yourself with fatty fatness. It will also be a reminder that you still need to think about your body and it’s wellbeing!

Get it on with Some Food Recon

Go to the table and look over the spread. Get the low down to know what you’re in for. This is where you plan, choose and strategize what foods make it to our mouth.

This means weighing some pros and cons. If you are gonna eat some high calorie offenders, try and eat a smaller portion.

Armed with knowledge you can go on to VICTORY!

Step Away From the Food

If you’re at a family’s house or a party there’s always a table where all the food is spread out. I know you see that table of food and you’re seeing all the shit you stayed away from the whole year: potato chips, dip, cupcakes, cookies, cheese….oh shit! It doesn’t even need to be quality, you’ll be ALL in. But there is more to life than potato chips!

Go talk to some damn people and enjoy the party! That’s the whole point of a party, socialize. 

So choose wisely my friend and step away from the table!

Dance your ass off (if occasion permits), or walk it off.

Do you like to dance? I do! If I’m at a party and there’s good music and people dancing, I’m there. Good news, I’m burning calories and having fun. Also good, I can’t eat too much or my stomach hurts when I’m dance. So this is ALWAYS a good option.

If you’re at someone’s house and there’s no dancing… it may be a more a sit down kinda deal. Put on your coat and take a nice walk in the winter wonderland that’s outside. Look at the Christmas lights, this is a chance to make a new tradition for your family! It really is fun and like a little adventure.

Be the change you want to see in your family!

Don’t get Caught in the Holiweek Chaos

You know what happens, there is that whole lead up to “The Holidays” then it’s actual Christmas and you’re almost totally done with it… but then the day after Christmas you’re eating leftovers for a couple days. When you go to work there’s a shit ton of desserts in the kitchen before 10 am EVERY DAY until New Years… Then New Years Eve you’re drinking your ass off and now you regret ALL of it… the weeks, the days, the whole damn thing.

Take Junk Breaks

Choose days to be cut out a junk food of your choice or all junk. If you make up your mind to do it, you will do it, at least for just one day. You may even inspire people by your dedication. For example, every year I celebrate #cookieabstinence. I make so many holiday cookies for the blog, parties and friends it makes me feel sick. So I give cookies up for about 2 weeks before Christmas Eve. Why not celebrate it yourself? Choose a day and a food that you want to give up. It’s that easy, for real!

Ground yourself

Take a moment when you have that initial impulse… ground yourself. Keep a charm with you, a bracelet, anything to remind you of your quest to take care of yourself. It’s important to remember the bigger picture and not just the canoli’s in your face!

I made you THIS AWESOME FREE DOWNLOADABLE WALLPAPER for your phone!