HOW TO STAY HEALTHY OVER THE FESTIVE SEASON – 6 SIMPLE TRICKS

Tis the season where everyone has a few more drinks and treats. But what if you want to stay healthy over the festive season? You don’t have to give everything up, but you can make a few smart choices and switches that add up.

6 SIMPLE TRICKS TO STAY HEALTHY OVER THE FESTIVE SEASON

EAT BEFORE TREAT

The biggest mistake I see women making is going to the work Christmas party or family gathering hungry! This is a recipe for disaster because you’ll stuff yourself to the brim.

Instead, make sure you eat something nourishing before you go out. Have some protein, good fats and greens. This will keep you relatively satiated, so you don’t go crazy at the buffet.

Need help planning a good meal before you go out and celebrate? Download a copy of my ‘The Chaos To Calm Balanced Meal Formula for a Smooth Transition’ here.

PUMP UP THE PROTEIN

What if the celebration is at an odd time of the day, or you know you’ll be knocking back a few cheeky drinks? Take a handful of almonds and eat them as you go in.

Why? This eases the blood sugar rollercoaster, especially if you’re drinking something with a sweet mixer such as tonic. Alcohol has a similar impact on your blood sugar levels, so an alcoholic drink with a sweet mixer is a double-whammy.

By including a source of protein such as almonds, you smooth out the blood sugar rollercoaster. This also means you’re less likely to get the cranky hangries later in the evening!

DRINK PLENTY OF WATER

This is probably the easiest thing you can do for your health. Aim for 35ml of plain (not fizzy) filtered water for each kilogram of body weight every day. This will keep you hydrated and energised.

The other reason that I love drinking plenty of water is that it makes for luscious, dewy skin. Think of it as your secret anti-ageing trick that costs next to nothing!

Why skip unfiltered and fizzy water? Research tells us that bubbles make you feel hungrier and eat more – regardless of whether the drink is sweetened or not.

Unfiltered water contains chlorine and fluoride. These two can mess with your microbiome, hormones and thyroid function. This means you’re more likely to feel flat, exhausted and struggle with your body composition.

PRIORITISE A GOOD NIGHT OF SLEEP

Another easy way to stay healthy over the festive season is to get some decent shut-eye. For some reason, we always sacrifice sleep when we need to get more things done – even though enough sleep is critical to get things done!

Your body loves routine. This includes going to bed and waking up at regular times at least most days. Do your body and mind a favour, and get a good 8+ hours of sleep.

Getting enough sleep means you are less sensitive to stress and have the brainpower to get more done. So you have my permission to go to bed early, even if you haven’t ticked everything off the to-do list yet.

DON’T TREAT YOUR BODY LIKE A BIN!

I think we’ve all been guilty of this one before! You do not have to finish off that meal, drink or treat just because it’s there. It’s ok to tip that drink into the loo or put the rest of the meal in the fridge for another day. 

Many of us were raised to finish everything on our plates and not waste food. This can be hard to break, especially if we’re eating with the people who raised us! But if you’re full, and the choice is between the food going into the bin or you eat it – you eating it is treating your body like a bin.

You don’t have to finish everything you’re given. In fact, in some countries, it is considered more polite to not finish everything on your plate because it shows the host you are satiated. Feel free to recite that fact to any family member who tries to force-feed you more than you need!

PRACTICE MINDFUL EATING

Do you find yourself eating and eating until you feel overfull and even a tad nauseated? Eating mindfully is critical if you want to stay healthy over the festive season.

Don’t shovel food in – slow down and chew your food well. Take time to tune into your hunger and fullness signals before you reach for seconds. It takes time for your body to register the food you’ve eaten. Mindful eating also helps you to enjoy your food more!

Remember – just because there is more food, doesn’t mean you need more food.

AND ONE FINAL TIP – DON’T WRITE OFF YOUR DAY, WEEK OR MONTH BECAUSE OF ONE MEAL.

That one meal is just one of 21 in your week, or one of 93 in December! Each time you eat is a fresh start to get yourself back on track.

There’s no need to feel guilty – just get back to nourishing your body the next time you have a meal.

ARE YOU READY TO MASTER YOUR FLUCTUATING MOODS, HORMONES AND WAISTLINE?

Don’t suffer through another year feeling tired and cranky.

If you want to feel calm and in control for 2021 and beyond, book a discovery call here.