Brace yourself – winter festivities are coming! And we all know what that means – we are about to be swarmed by so much magnificent food that we’ll be unbuttoning our pants until April! All jokes aside, the holiday season is traditionally the time of year when most of us make promises to ourselves to take better care of how much and what we eat, but before we do, we splurge into the mouthwatering delights that we’ve waited for during the entire year. Why not save your New Year’s resolutions for discovering new and exciting things and avoid the pants’ unbuttoning this time? Let us show you a few nifty tricks on how to balance the festive feasts – give yourself the gift of a guilt-free conscience this year!
Consistency is key
First of all, let’s get one thing straight – one evening of going wild with all the dinner courses won’t annul all the work you’ve put into shaping your physique throughout the past year. It will, however, leave you feeling dizzy with carb-hangover (besides the regular one) and bloated for a couple of days. In order to achieve the best results, you have to have a daily training routine planned out and watch over your diet 365 days a year.
So, even if you do take seconds of that wonderful piece of pie, remember that you can get back on track the following day and use that energy for breaking a new personal record at the gym. No reason for worrying at such a carefree time of year.
Schedule your holiday workouts in advance
Another issue with the winter holidays is that they start with Thanksgiving and end almost two months afterwards. That leaves us with many opportunities to miss out on our workouts because of the rare and precious family gathering and, of course, all the yummy food that accompanies such events and leaves us stuffed on the couch for days.
The best thing to do in such a time is to think in advance – take the calendar and schedule your regular training sessions between the holidays. Commit to going to the gym by taking a friend or family member and keeping the jolly spirit afloat.
Stick to smart food substitutes
Did you know that some of our favorite festive foods hold valuable nutrients and are really healthy? That’s right, not all holiday dishes bare a guilty-conscience. For example, one big slice of cooked, blended or mashed pumpkin holds about 50 calories, two grams of protein and three grams fiber. It is also an excellent source of vitamin C, iron, zinc, potassium and of vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene and several other carotenoids. So won’t you pass that pie?
There is one more way to secure your body gets all its required nutrients this winter – by taking food supplements, just like the ones at Herbs of Gold. Unfortunately, our food industry has diminished the nutritive values of many of our favorite groceries so we need to think of new ways to digest enough of vital minerals, fibers, fatty acids and vitamins. Don’t be shy, give healthy foods a try!
Materialize your motivation
Keep your eyes on the prize! Seriously, one of the most effective techniques of achieving your goals is to have a constant visual reminder of them in front of you. If you are dreaming of a lean body or you wish to loose just a couple of pounds or you need to add muscle mass to your physique – write it all down. Or paint it or have it done in collage – go crazy!
Just hang the poster at a visible spot, one you walk by every day. This way you will not forget your desired outcome once the Christmas dinner is served. You will still enjoy all the wonderful meals but with a moderate intake.