The holidays are such a wonderful time of the year. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. Giving & receiving gifts, holiday parties, spending time with friends & family, and of course when I was a kid, believing in Santa made Christmas the most fun & exciting holiday there was.
As great as it is, the season of gift-giving can be super stressful and have a negative impact on health. Many of us put exercise on the back burner, stress out about all the gifts we have to buy, go to holiday parties & eat lots of holiday treats. Then we go into the new year with feelings of failure, guilt, and regret.
It is possible to stay healthy through the holidays, while still partaking in holiday events and enjoying yourself. Trust me, I’ve been doing it for the past few years. I eat whatever I want on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but the rest of the season I eat pretty clean while still including paleo-friendly Christmas treats.
These are my tips to stay healthy during the holidays:
- Exercise Regularly: Humans are meant to move. We need exercise. In our modern culture, we’re constantly sitting which isn’t doing us any favors. Do whatever type of exercise that you find fun and enjoy doing and do some type of movement daily. I like to exercise first thing in the morning (after my coffee), which gives me a boost of energy and an endorphin high to start the day off right! My favorite types of exercise are weight lifting, swimming, and yoga. Do what makes you happy and that you look forward to, whether that be dancing, running, pilates, crossfit, walking, boxing, biking, etc.
- Eat Real Food: Just because it’s the holiday season doesn’t mean you have to eat junk food. Paleo/real food is delicious. It keeps you satisfied and feeling great. If you know eating a certain food is going to make you feel crummy and maybe even guilty, stop and think to yourself if it’s worth it. More often than not, you’ll realize you’d rather feel good and make the choice to eat real food. If you’re at a holiday party, choose the foods that are paleo-friendly, such as meats and veggies.
- Make Paleo Holiday Treats: Staying healthy during the holidays doesn’t mean you have to miss out. If you want a treat such as gingerbread men cookies, than make a paleo version & enjoy every bite. If you can’t have dairy, there’s even some decent dairy-free eggnogs you can buy at the grocery store (and they’re actually egg-free too) so you can even enjoy some delicious holiday beverages without feeling bloated & uncomfortable. Pretty much any holiday treat you want can be paleo-fied, and with a little googling, I’m sure you can find a recipe for what you’re looking for!
- Stress Less: Hate crowds? If going shopping at the mall and facing the terrible parking lot situation and the mobs of people inside stresses you out – don’t go shopping at the mall. You can do all of your Christmas shopping online these days, so why not take advantage? How great is it that you can sit at home in your pajamas on your laptop, order your Christmas gifts, and have them delivered right to your door?! Worried about money? I start my Christmas shopping months in advance, and buy one gift a week – this takes loads of stress off my back. Take some time to de-stress – get a massage or a pedicure.
- Take a Magnesium Supplement: Stress and sugar both deplete magnesium in the body – and during the holidays we’ve got a lot of both! I take Natural Calm before bed – it’s a delicious magnesium drink mix. Most people are deficient in magnesium, so it’s usually a good idea to take a magnesium supplement.
- Do a Group Challenge: If you need the accountability of other people to help you resist all the sweets and treats, doing a group challenge may be just what you need to stay on track during the holidays. I am definitely a person who needs the accountability of others. This is also why I prefer to do group fitness classes or work out with my personal trainer. Having someone do a clean eating challenge with you will make it more fun and easier to stay on track. Some group challenges are my After Thanksgiving RESET and New Years RESET, The 21 Day Sugar Detox, and the Whole30.
- Eat Before Holiday Parties: If you’re going to a party and know there won’t be much food there for you to eat, eat beforehand so you’re less tempted. If you do end up eating at the party, you’ll eat less since you won’t be starving.
- Lose the Guilt: If you do eat something that is not ideal, don’t dwell on it. We shouldn’t feel guilt or shame when it comes to fueling our bodies and enjoying our meals. Eat the thing, enjoy the thing, and move on. Stressing out over food can be even worse for our health than just eating the less-than-ideal food.
Do you find these tips helpful? Have some tips of your own? Share with me in the comments!
See Also:
Paleo-Friendly Gift Ideas For the Holidays
Paleo Tips For Beginners
Dining Out Guide
