Health Tips for the Holidays

 

The Holidays tend to be a time for all of us to get caught up in the routine of chasing down all of our plans, trying to secure those last minute gifts, and racking our minds to find time to spend with all of the people who we would like to see. Often times, we forget during this time about the important things that give us the focus and the energy to conquer this busy and unique part of the year.  Here are some tips to help you capitalize on your personal goals while you tackle the Christmas season.

EXERCISE EARLY

You may be the kind of person who likes to go to classes at the gym in the afternoon or when you get out of work.  You have recently been learning over the last few weeks that getting to that class when you have so much to do is highly inconvenient or impossible.  The solution is to either make it a priority or to wake up an hour earlier, (even if your bed is warm and soft) and get to that morning class or to a place in your home to get it done.  The chances of being interrupted early in the morning are very slim.  Businesses are closed, your friends are sleeping, and your kids are either still in bed or at school.

PLAN YOUR HOLIDAY EATING

It is said in business that if you do not sit down and come to a conclusion as to your plan of attack, it is rare that you will conquer what you are trying to conquer.  The same really goes for anything.  We all know that we are going to indulge for the holidays.  The key is finding that balance.  When you are about to go to a cookie swap and figure that you will likely be testing the creations of your friends or family, make a commitment that you are not going to also be drinking alcohol that night and overloading on sugar.

Plan for every holiday event being loaded with sugary treats.  Don't drink any kind of soda (if you do that) because a soda has dozens of grams of sugar and you will be consuming more than your regular intake of sugar from your treats.  

There are ways to bake in such a way that enables lighter and healthier options that only you will likely know you used.  Perhaps use 1/2 applesauce instead of all butter or use agave nectar or sugar in the raw instead of regular sugar.  Use whole wheat flour instead of just white flour.  The health differences are significant and you will not even notice the difference in taste.

Drink lots of water.  Sweets and fatty foods are actually toxins that are hard to avoid around the holidays when people are all around you with their decadent cooking styles.  Sometimes your choice of a dish is between unhealthy and unhealthier.  Resort to water and cleansing to make the difference and keep you moving forward. 

BUDGET YOUR TIME

You can budget your time to eat better and to install a little exercise into your busy week.  When you have been rushing around doing things continuously, you actually start to do everything a little faster, including eat.  SLOW down how fast you eat when you eat your holiday meals and allow your body to let you know that you are full.  When you eat fast, you tend to overindulge, and then quite typically spend the remainder of the day feeling bloated and uncomfortable.  Take your time.

When you get that chance to take a breather and potentially relax at night watching your shows on DVR or whatever you do, consider ways to incorporate easy exercise.  Perhaps hit some minor core exercises like controlled slow bicycles, leg lifts, oblique twists, etc.  Maybe you have been rushing around and your body feels like it has been tied in knots.  While you are out in the stores or running from point A to point B, make a point to stop and get a foam roller.  They are terrific and fairly inexpensive.  That way when you are relaxing at night, you can incorporate this invaluable method of muscle release.  It is slow moving, addictive, and incredibly effective for stretching your muscles, increasing body symmetry, and enhancing your well being the way a fancy massage would.

PLYOGA

PLYOGA is a transitional system using plyometric movement as the foundation for a workout that features yoga as active recovery.  If you just have 20 minutes to do something and you can not get to the gym, think of some quick twitch movements that can allow you to transfer with ease into a similar styled yoga posture.  In 20 minutes, you will be allowing yourself to enhance so many of your personal fitness pillars.  Endurance, Agility, Flexibility, & Balance.  Check out the video at www.PLYOGAFitness.com for some ideas.      

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

from PLYOGA Fitness