With the season of eating upon us, remember, the best
gift you can give to others is you! Celebrate and enjoy the holidays by
keeping your heart healthy and your spirits high. Fitting physical
activity into your schedule and eating healthfully during the holidays
can be easier than finding the perfect gift for your loved ones. Here
are the top 10 ways in which you can stay fit and eat well.
1. Use your hunger to guide you. Avoid arriving at
parties ravenously hungry, as you are sure to over indulge.
2. Pack healthy snacks for last-minute holiday
shopping. (veggie sticks, turkey roll-ups, yogurt, & fruit).
3. Plan physically active holiday events &
traditions: skating, skiing, snowshoeing, or cutting down your own tree.
4. Consider healthy gift options: heart rate
monitors, pedometers or fresh fruit deliveries.
5. Limit liquid calories. Plan on 1-2 alcoholic
drinks per event and drink them with or after your meals.
6. Replace or substitute low fat ingredients in
recipes. Use evaporated skim milk in place of cream and choose nonfat or
low fat yogurt, cheese, or sour cream for dips.
7. Boost your veggie intake. Fill up on salad and
extra veggies at the buffet.
8. Fit in extra fitness by doing an extra lap or two
around the mall before or after shopping. Avoid traffic jams and park in
the back of the lot (sneak in some fresh air too).
9. Avoid nervous nibbling. Arrive fashionably late,
and seat yourself farthest away from the buffet.
10. Engage in conversation or dance the night away
and forgo thousands of extra calories.
*Bonus*
Remember, food is everywhere. Strive to SAMPLE
special treats and forgo everyday high-calorie foods (chips, cookies,
brownies). If you have a bad day, forget about feeling bad. Do something
healthful to get yourself back on track! Start a new day with a walk to
the post office or the library or to return the videos.
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