Info: Holiday Tips

So the Holidays are here along with parties, shopping, presents, family and food. This time of year is truly amazing. Everyone seems a little bit more cheerier, more gracious and more appreciative. It is a time where we come together and celebrate life with the people we love the most. It is also a time for a great deal of stress, unhealthy food and over eating. There is absolutely no reason we cant enjoy our favorite foods. That awesome casserole your aunt makes or those indulging cookies your mom has made every year since you can remember can still be savored. The key is MODERATION. And all that holiday stress of making sure you sent out your Christmas cards to your distant cousins and getting your husband the perfect gift can take its toll on our waist lines and health. The key to this is WORKOUTS. So one here we have both! Tips in moderating your foods so you don't overeat and great kick butt workouts. Some great tips are below and the workouts...well choose one and enjoy some stress busting!

1. Before every cocktail, beer or wine drink a glass of water. Of the 3, the best choice would be red wine, then light beer, then a light cocktail (and that does not mean eggnog and brandy or whatever they put in that stuff). You can even sub the second or third alcoholic beverage with some sparkling water with a lime, try drinking it in a wine glass to make it a little more special.

2. Do not hang out where the food is, mingle and chat with everyone. So what if you have to listen to your grandpa's story of how he built something with his bare hands and some scrap metal again. He will appreciate the attention and you will avoid eating all the 20 types of cookies your mom made.

3. Load up on veggies and go light on the unhealthy carbs and starches such as potatoes and bread. Be careful of veggie casseroles too, those are full of butters, creams and cheeses.

4. Move around after dinner. Help clear the table, do the dishes and straighten up. Try to even go for a quick walk if you are lucky enough to live in a place with decent weather (ah hem Floridians).

5. If you know you are a sucker for desserts, go light on your starches and carbs...and vice versa. I know this year my mom is making Yorkshire puddings (my fav!!) so I am going to try not to eat every cookie she made. Count on me doing some serious training too.

6. Avoid starving yourself all day until the big meal. People do this all the time!! They don't eat all day, then dinner hits and bam!! They eat 5000 calories on a sluggish starving metabolism. Eat light, clean (unprocessed fresh foods) healthy meals and snacks during the day. This will keep your metabolism on even kiel and you wont want to eat the whole pork roast and everything else on the table all by yourself.

7. Savor your food. Take your time and enjoy the food you are eating instead of shoveling it in (like a certain husband I know). Savor each and every bite, making the goodness last!

8. Enjoy your family and laugh. Remember the whole point of the holidays is to be with loved ones, although the food is good too, spending time with family and friends is the true meaning of holiday get togethers.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays EVERYONE!!!