HOLIDAY FIT TIPS

HOW TO LOOK GOOD—AND FEEL GOOD!—ALL SEASON LONG

Did you know that most Americans do not lose the extra few
pounds they put on during the holidays? So year after year, those
extra pounds add up—and play a big factor in the American obesity
epidemic. So what’s a gal to do when she’s stuck all day in the office
with all those holiday treats calling her name? Or what about when
she’s baking cookies (read: chocolate chips melting before her eyes)
with her kids? Or at her mom’s annual holiday party complete with
Mom’s famous caramelized onion tart and creamy spinach and artichoke
dip? Then there are the drinks with friends who are in town, the impromptu playdates turned cheese fests and on-the-go lunches in the midst of a last-minute shopping frenzy. And then, of course, there are the actual holiday dinners themselves. Why, the holiday season is a veritable minefield of food folly.

Fear not, my celebrating friends! There are ways for you to enjoy these treats and not put on a pound. Really. No obligatory holiday five-pound weight gain. No working to take it off for the next six months, gaining and losing, gaining and losing. Here are 10 simple tips to keep the weight off during the holidays and still indulge in all the season’s eatings.

1	Portion control is still No. 1! Just because it’s the holidays, it does not give you a free pass to forget your healthy eating habits. When you continue your five to six small meals a day, you can feel free to eat that cookie—one cookie, not five. Not eating those small meals? Start now. They keep your blood sugar in check and do wonders for your metabolism.
2	Going to a holiday party? Do not go hungry. Eat a healthy snack before going and drink a glass of water before hitting the appy table. Control the amount you are going to eat by pacing yourself and giving yourself a limit. Stick with it! It takes discipline, but it will indeed spare you from the disappointment of gaining a few pounds and having to spend the next day battling the bloat. Also, drink one glass of water in between drinks. Water will not only help keep you in check by filling you up, but it will hydrate you—and minimize the hangover potential. Remember, drinks have calories, too (lots of them), and once you’ve had a few, discipline goes out the window.
3	Don’t make food the focus of your holidays. Most Americans are obsessed with the big holiday meals and treats—but you don’t have to be. Instead, pick one or two things you love and enjoy them—but only them. Then enjoy the company you are with. After all, the holidays are (or at least should be) about family and friends.
4	Start a new tradition. Find a holiday recipe you love and make it healthier. Make smarter, more health-conscious choices like changing the oil or butter to applesauce and cooking everything from scratch. Creating something brand new and healthy is fun for the whole family.
5	Take a walk after your meal. Bundle up and enjoy the fresh, crisp air.
6	Don’t use the holidays as an excuse to not exercise. You must keep up your normal routine. Schedule your workouts in your planner and stick with them. There is no reason to slack during the holidays, especially if you have a cute dress to get into.
7	Get everyone involved in staying fit. If the whole family and even your friends are on board, it’s much easier to stick with a routine. Organize a family ski trip or have a holiday dance party after dinner—just do something to get the family moving.
8	Don’t make exercise a stressor in your life. Exercise relieves stress—so get on the treadmill or take a fun class at your gym and then go shopping. Your body and mind will thank you and you’ll be much better equipped to deal with the holiday hustle and bustle.
9	If you have another commitment or something else arises during your regularly scheduled workout, make sure you do something else that day, fitness-wise. If a snowstorm hits and you can’t get to the gym, go outside and play with your kids. Pull the sled, walk up that hill—you create great family memories and get your workout in!
10	Make sure you have a good home workout. Even if you work out for 20 minutes at home, it’s better than nothing. Here’s an easy-to-do yet challenging at-home routine: Run up and down your stairs three times 20 push-ups 25 lunges 20 dips Run up and down your stairs three times Plank for 1 minute 50 abdominal crunches 25 plié squats Run up and down your stairs three times Repeat this three times with a 1-minute rest in between. This quick home workout needs no equipment and will get your heart racing and fat burning. You can also grab some free weights, a Swiss ball and a medicine ball and create your own 20- to 30-minute home workout.

You can keep off those extra pounds and have a great holiday with a little planning. Enjoy your holidays and stay fit! Best wishes from the team at Mommy-Moves! Fitness Stroller Classes and Kids-Move! Fitness and Yoga (www.mommy-moves.com). Contact us for our winter schedule and private training opportunities and fitness coaching sessions (also available over the phone)—before you know it, you will be trading your sled in for a surfboard.