Staying Festive and Fit!

Since it's the festive season I've decided to take a break from the Fitness Programs 101 series. I will continue the rest of the series in the new year.

This weekend most of us will be gorging ourselves with turkey, ham, pudding, eggnog, alcohol, cookies and pies. Some of us may even eat multiple Christmas meals, and then New Years is just around the corner. So basically for a week we will be celebrating by eating, eating and eating more!

So how do we enjoy the festivities without showing evidence around our waistlines? Here are some helpful tips:

• Eat slowly and chew your food properly - Christmas lunches and dinners tend to go on for a little while so eating slowly and chewing your food properly will aid digestion and prevent you from overeating.
• Walk around and mingle - we tend to sit or sleep after a big meal so why not walk around, mingle and catch up with those you haven't seen in a while.
• Don't give into peer pressure - enjoy your food and drink but follow the rules YOU have set for yourself and don't feel pressured to follow other's bad habits.
• Keep yourself hydrated - drink plenty of water, this will help to dilute the alcohol and prevent you from overeating.
• Don't stand next to the food or drink - if you are having a buffet style meal or pre-dinner snacks, make sure to stand far away from the food tables. You will be more likely to eat/drink something if it is near you.
• Try alternatives - if you are helping to cook for Christmas, try and use healthier alternatives. Eg. use olive oil instead of butter, herbs and spices to flavour instead of salt, try fresh fruit or brown sugar instead of white sugar.
• Stick to your routine - just because you are on holidays from work doesn't mean you should take a holiday from exercising!

I want to thank each and every one of you for reading and supporting my blog in 2011. You are the reason I write these articles and I hope you are inspired to make a healthy change to your life.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year!!!

See you in the new year!

JW