 |
10 Top Holiday Tips: Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy
by Jonathan Roche, Breakthrough Health & Fitness
Mom's pumpkin pie, turkey with dressing, yams and butter…'tis the season to indulge! But you don't have to give it all up to have a healthy holiday - just keep in mind one word: balance!
We all know how busy the holidays can be. This year, anticipate that the demands of the holiday season may change your exercise and nutritional routines and then use these tips to keep yourself on an active track.
1. Incorporate Interval Training into your exercise routine for a more efficient workout. When you are short of time, Interval Training helps you exercise smarter, not harder. (Click here for a free sample Interval Workout.)
2. Turn your daily activities into random acts of fitness. Build a snowman, discover your neighborhood's open space, or speed walk around the mall before Christmas shopping.
3. Explore new activities. Try a fun new sport like cross country skiing, ice skating, rollerblading, or speed walking.
4. Travel plans? Find out about your workout options ahead of time. Look into spin classes, a lap pool, or an indoor track near Grandma's house. Be sure to pack the right workout gear.
5. Serve sparkly holiday drinks. For a fancy drink at your holiday dinner party, mix 3/4-glass of strawberry tea to 1/4-glass of sparkling water. Add a bit of honey and toast the New Year 2006! (Click here for holiday beverages with a healthy twist.)
6. Think green! Fill up 50 percent of your plate with green and non-starchy vegetables, then add 25 percent protein, and 25 percent complex carbohydrate/starch for a nutritious (and colorful) meal.
7. Offer to bring a healthy dish to the holiday feast. Consider wild rice stuffing, mashed potatoes sprinkled with lemon juice instead of butter, or a tasty vegetable such as spinach, lightly sautéed in olive oil, garlic, and ginger.
8. Focus on hydration. Invest in a festive water bottle and take it with you everywhere. Drink 64 ounces of water a day, plus an extra ounce for every minute you exercise.
9. Pretend you're a personal trainer. Rather than retiring to the couch after the big dinner, lead your family in a fun, 10-20 minute walk around the block. Later on, challenge your nieces and nephews to push ups and sit ups. (Click here for a free sample workout that you and the family can do in your living room.)
10. Stay positive, motivated and have fun! If you miss a workout or feel like you've overindulged, remember that it's just a speed bump, not a road block, on the road to a balanced and healthy lifestyle!
|
|
 Get the most out of your workouts!
Something for everyone, from novice to pro.
|
|
< Back to Training
|
