Ways to Stay Healthy throughout the Holidays

Ah, the holiday season! Gigantic feasts, late-night parties, and more on your schedule

than you could possibly do in a lifetime. How can you be sure that come January you’ll

have energy enough to face the New Year and still fit into your pants? These tried-and-

true tricks will help you breeze through the joyful season with your nerves, your weight,

and your health intact.

Learn How to Eat Healthy, Holiday-Style

Most people gain between one and ten pounds during the holidays.1 Surprisingly, most of

the weight adults put on is gained between Thanksgiving and New Years, and most

people never lose these pounds. Not only does eating well help you maintain a healthy

weight, it also helps prevent blood sugar problems. Here's your guide to navigating

holiday feasts without weight gain:

Never fill your plate just to fill your plate. Put only the things you can't stand to

pass up on your plate, and you'll eliminate tons of excess calories for things you

don't even really enjoy (not that we're calling out fruit cake by name).

Use a light hand when doling on sauces and gravies. These are laden with

calories, and a little adds just as much flavor as a lot.

Don't arrive at the Christmas parties starving. Enjoy a light but filling snack

between lunch and dinner -- raw fruit and vegetables is ideal. Drink a large glass

of water before arriving and you’ll feel stuffed enough to keep your appetite at

bay.

If you're in charge of the menu, or at least bringing a dish, offer some healthy

alternatives to cheese, butter, and sugar-laden casseroles and desserts. All of the

health-conscious attendants will appreciate a nice salad, healthy vegetables, or

meat alternative on the table.

Focus on the fellowship, not just the food. By making people the centerpiece of

your good time, you can pass up the useless calories at the table with ease.

Learn How to Sleep Well, Holiday Style

Getting eight hours of snooze time is difficult enough without Christmas shopping,

attending parties, volunteering, trying to keep up with the extra load at work, and making

sure the kids get that obligatory photo with the mall Santa. But if you don't get enough

rest, you're guaranteed to be a Scrooge.

Arrange your schedule for some much-needed downtime during the week so that you are

actually rested enough to enjoy the festivities. For instance, if you know that party on

Thursday night is going to last until midnight, take the afternoon off and catch a nap. If

you're having trouble getting sleep even when you have time, this can be a sign of blood

sugar problems. Schedule an appointment with your doctor.

Learn How to Exercise Well, Holiday-Style

Even the most committed gym rats have trouble keeping pace this time of year. But there

are other ways to get a decent workout without hitting the gym or carving out time for a

spin class. Holiday shopping actually burns about 135 calories per hour.2 Cleaning your

house, decorating, and preparing meals all burn calories. Other ways to get in a workout

when you can't make it to exercise class include going out to select (and even cut!) your

own tree, Christmas caroling around the block, and spending time playing in the snow. If

you don't have kids to play in the snow with, borrow the neighbors'. No, they won't mind.

You might even get a gift certificate out of it.

Learn How to Supplement Your Healthy Lifestyle All Year Long

Unfortunately, American diets aren't that healthy even outside of the holidays. A good

supplement can give your body the nutrients it needs to stay healthy when you can't get

all the fruits, vegetables, and lean meats you need. If you have aches, pains, and fatigue,

it might just be a lack of good nutrition. Add a healthy, proven supplement from

Advanced Bionutritionals to boost your health without taking medications.

With these helpful tips, you can enter the New Year with vibrancy and excitement, and

without extra weight and fatigue.