Healthy Holiday Tips to Stay Fit

The holiday season of 2024 has officially kicked off.

I must say, I do enjoy the holidays, and I keep my indoor Christmas lights on all year because the lights bring joy into my life. I think anything we do to make ourselves happy is okay.

With Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the New Year celebrations occurring within 12 weeks, many of us will overindulge in rich food.

With the holidays in full swing, do you sometimes feel unable to control your sweet cravings? Or your love of homemade bread, eggnog, or those mouthwatering holiday cookies?

Do not let your hard work at the gym, weight loss, or your new health and fitness program fall by the waste side because of the holidays.

There is no need to deprive yourself during this time of year, but be mindful of yourself and your body.

Here are three straightforward tricks that have helped many clients stay on track with their health and fitness goals while enjoying this festive season.

1. Keep A Positive Attitude

I love the holidays. But the holiday season can be stressful and bring out the Grinch in all of us.

Long lines in stores, traffic, entertaining family, last-minute gift shopping, and holiday traveling will test our patience.

In stressful moments, do the Box Breathing Technique. This 4-4-4-4 breathing technique is a relaxation technique that can help relieve stress and reset the mind and body:

1. Inhale: Inhale through your nose for a count of four.

2. Hold: Hold your breath for a count of four.

3. Exhale: Exhale through your mouth for a count of four.

4. Hold again: Hold your breath for a count of four with your lungs empty.

5. Repeat: Repeat the pattern until you feel re-centered

2. Get Enough Sleep

Getting enough nightly sleep will help with reducing stress. Research has indicated that sleep-deprived people consume more empty high calories than people who sleep at least 6-8 hours.

Furthermore, sleep-deprived people are in a constant state of fight/flight mode. When the body is under constant stress, your body continuously releases cortisol, a steroid hormone.

As a result, excessive cortisol levels in the body can wreak havoc on your health.

This can lead to multiple issues like weight gain, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, anxiety, agitation, and digestive to name a few. The body repairs itself. And sleep is when the body regenerates itself.

That is why it is so important to get enough sleep that fits your lifestyle.

3. Maintain Physical Activities

Maintaining a workout schedule of 150 minutes (30 minutes daily) of weekly physical activity will dramatically improve your overall mood.

During physical activity, endorphins and serotonin are released in the body. These are your natural feel-good hormones.

Too busy, set a timer for 10-20 minutes. During the 20 minutes, do bodyweight exercises such as push-ups, dips, squats, jumping jacks, lunges, and burpees.

Take advantage of the cooler weather by biking, walking, or running outdoors for a cardio workout.

Just move your body!

Sometimes, it is easier said than done. If you can plant these three tricks, you will stay on track during the holiday season or any events that might disrupt our schedule.

Maintaining a positive attitude, getting sleep, and exercising will enable you to maintain consistency. Consistency is the goal to reach your goals.

Have a fit and healthy holiday season.