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Its that time of the year again and oh how much fun it is! One week to go and already I can feel the stress of the silly season building in my muscles and bulging over my belt……
I came across a few handy little tips to stay healthy and happy over the Christmas season that I really liked. Thought I’d share as Im sure Im not the only one who can get a little carried away at this time of the year…….
- Detox your system. We all know Christmas is not an ideal time to lose weight, so take care of yourself in the run up to the big day. By eating healthily and staying active beforehand, you will take on Christmas week feeling super energised!
- Plan ahead. Dinner invitation at 7pm? Buffet at the office party at 9pm? Have a light, healthy snack beforehand to banish cravings. Who can say no to Christmas treats when they are starving? Not many! By filling up beforehand you can limit the damage.
- Fit exercise into the holidays. I know it’s difficult, but even just 15 minutes of activity a few times a day will help to keep you feeling energised, and go some way towards burning off those mince pies! Tinned fruits make for great weights, and jumping jacks can be done in front of a Christmas movie!
- Water, water water. It will keep you feeling fuller for longer, hydrate your system and if you’re drinking alcohol too – water in between each drink will cause you to drink less of the hard stuff and combat tomorrow’s hangover!
- Learn about food substitutions. Eating healthily doesn’t mean you have to miss out – just make smart replacements. Choose fruit as a starter instead of pate; use lower fat custard in the trifle; or offer to bring a lower fat version of a dish that could be a diet disaster.
- Smaller portions. You can sample different dishes or desserts, but keeping the portions small keeps the calories lower. Plus, who doesn’t want to try 3 small plates of different dishes as opposed to one larger dish?
- Do things you enjoy. Christmas is a stressful time for everyone, no matter how organised you may be. Yet, it is a time to be spent with family, friends and merriment! So make time for the things you really love this Christmas.
- Do something for someone else. It is the time of giving, right? So why not offer to pick up a friend’s turkey, visit an elderly neighbour for a cup of tea or bake some Christmas treats for the office. Doing something nice for someone else will give you more satisfaction than any gift!
So enjoy the festive season everyone and take care of yourselves!
(tips from www.tescohealthandwellbeing.com)
