Tips for Staying Fit and Healthy During the Holidays

The holidays are filled with lots of food, drink, and festivities. It’s my favorite time of year but it’s also filled with some over-indulgence. So how do you stay fit and healthy while you’re celebrating with family and friends? Well, we have some useful tips from the folks at Kaiser Permanente.

Stay Active Even When It’s Cold

I know it’s so appealing to just curl up inside during the winter months but being outdoors and working up a little sweat will do wonders for your health. Just bundle up a bit and get outside.

As for what to do, here are some great activities you can do with your friends and family this holiday season:

• Take a brisk walk – go for a nice stroll in the neighborhood, perhaps while the food is cooking
• Have a snowball fight – not just for kids, adults can get in on the action as well. It’s a great way to have fun with the whole family
• Play flag football – another wonderful activity for the whole family
• Go window shopping – walk around and experience all the holiday lights and decorations your town has to offer. Maybe even buy yourself a little gift but most importantly, get moving.

And if you think something as simple as window shopping won’t help, here’s a few fantastic facts about the benefits of getting active and outside:

• According to cardiologist Dr. Abhimanyu Uberoi:“The challenge during the holidays is that you’re off your routine, but you can still take a 10- to 15-minute walk. Something is better than nothing. With 10 minutes of high-intensity activity like stair runs or jumping jacks, you can get the equivalent of a full hour of slower-paced activity.”
• A 2018 study found that spending time in natural green spaces leads to reduced risks of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

So stay as active as you can through the holidays.

Eat Right During the Holidays

This is the season of cookies, cakes, and just so many sweets but there are ways to have a few sweets while also maintaining an overall healthy holiday diet. Here are some tips:

• Manage sugar cravings by stocking up on healthy alternatives like nuts, veggies, and fruits
• Drink lots of water. A big cup of water before meals is a good way to help you feel full so you’re less likely to over indulge
• Think small bites and small portions. This strategy is great way for you to enjoy all the treats by cutting down on the serving sizes.

Remember that saying – you are what you eat. Plus, not only is eating healthy good for you overall, it also keeps your skin glowing.

Healthy Living Goes a Long Way

I hope you find these tips helpful and useful this holiday season. It’s a wonderful time of year and with just a little bit of activity and moderation we can also make it a healthy time of year.

For even more health living tips check out our Healthy Living blog series.