It’s that time again that rolls around every year.  Thanksgiving officially kicks off the start to the holiday season showdown of holiday eating.

Get ready for holiday parties, office celebrations, family feasts, and swanky soirées with friends.  It’s going to be a jam-packed, busy time filled with laughter, fun times, and did I mention…FOOD?

So in an effort to help you enjoy yourself fully this holiday season but at the same time help you avoid the standard holiday 5 pounds of weight gain, I am going to share 5 super simple tips that will keep you fit, healthy, and beach ready.

1) Plan Your Day

Most of the time you will know the day and time when you will be attending a holiday party or eating a huge dinner.  On those days you can and should adjust your eating and exercise to offset the possible damage.

If you are expecting to eat a dinner out with numerous courses and desert, try to make sure the other two meals you eat that day are nutrient dense but relatively low in calorie.  This will keep your metabolism revved up and deliver you to the party ready to eat but not starved. Allowing you to avoid overeating.

A great example of how you can do this is by focusing both your breakfast and lunch around lean protein, healthy fats (avocado or coconut oil), and cruciferous veggies (broccoli and cauliflower).  This type of meal will give you the most bang for your buck, keep you satiated all day, and keep your calories low allowing you the extra indulgence in the evening.

For an added benefit make sure to get in a workout.  A short, fat burning workout like high intensity interval training (HIIT) will do the job in just 15 minutes.  Your metabolism will be burning calories even after your workout.

 2) Take time to Prepare

Taking the time to prepare during the holidays will go a long way. It can be as easy as preparing some healthy snacks for the week to take to work or store in your refrigerator.  The last thing you want to do is wake up late, grab coffee, and head into the office without breakfast.  Even the most disciplined person will give in to all of the holiday candy and baked goods hanging around.  Try to prepare in advance some boiled eggs or fresh veggies that are easy to take on the go.

3) Cultivate Awareness

When you find yourself in front of a delicious plate of festive food, take a moment and breathe. Allow yourself to really enjoy your food by fully being present to its taste. Chew each bite. This simple act will gear you with the awareness to know when you have had enough.

4) Drink More Water

This one sounds so simple I know, but it’s important.  You need to drink at least 10-8 ounce glasses of day, minimum 80 ounces. 1 gallon (128 ounces) is a good target. And if you exercise, drink alcohol or any other type of diuretic beverage (coffee, tea), or live somewhere hot, these numbers should be much higher.  When you’re properly hydrated you feel less hungry and hence, eat less.

5) Get More Sleep  

One of the easiest ways to gain weight is by not getting proper sleep.  It has been shown that lack of sleep may compromise your ability to lose fat. When you don’t get enough sleep your cortisol levels may increase. Increased cortisol levels may contribute to an increase in central fat around your belly. So make sure to get your sleep.

If you put these 5 tips into action you will avoid the extra weight and instead be ready to hit the beach.

Happy Holidays from Saltwater Fit!

Julie

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