By: Susan Howard | Special to the Palisadian-Post
November is the start to a flurry of fun, friends, family and festivities. With the joy of more celebrations, food and drinks we find ourselves challenged to stay on track and keep our energy up and our waistline down. Enjoy the holiday season with these healthy way to keep a smile on your face into the new year!
#1 JUMP START YOUR METABOLISM
Make the morning a calorie burner by starting your day with a quick 30-minute workout of high-intensity interval training and a healthy breakfast of a green drink with a scoop of protein. You will jump start your metabolism and give it the fuel it needs to enjoy the day.
#2 START A FITNESS TRADITION
Living in sunny California, enjoy the beautiful beaches and majestic mountains by organizing a pre-feast family volleyball game or hike.
If you want a bit more excitement and activity, take advantage of the Turkey Trot in the Palisades or find an event wherever your travels may take you this holiday season.
Before you know it, the annual activity will be a family tradition.
#3 SPICE UP YOUR WORKOUT AND BRING A FRIEND
It’s more fun and supportive to share your workout with a friend. Take turns planning your next adventure and create more excitement in your activities. Try a new fitness program like AirBarre, change your run to a new course or trail, or play a sport with a friend.
#4 CELEBRATE THE SMALL STUFF
You may not have that full hour to get your regular routine in, but if you can squeeze in 15 minutes in the morning, afternoon and evening, you just created 45 minutes of goodness to your day. Celebrate the small stuff and carve out 15 minutes each of yoga, cardio and resistance into your day. These short bursts will be enough to burn of that extra holiday drink or cookie.
#5 MAKE A PICTURE JOURNAL
Keep track f your workouts and eating throughout the holidays by taking a quick pic of your activity or festive food. You will create some fun memories of all your exercising and hopefully make you think twice before your take a second helping. You can share your journal with a friend and be each other’s cheerleader.
#6 BE SPONTANEOUS AND DANCE
Call friends to go out dancing or put some music on at home or in the car and break out your moves. If you need a little motivation, join others in the fun at a dance or fitness studio. Dancing is an excellent way to burn calories and improve on your grace, style and swagger.
#7 CREATE A TEAM CHALLENGE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY
See who can burn the most calories individually or set a team goal to crush by the new year. Make it the theme of your holiday season and organize a beach bike ride, hire a trainer or try a new workout with friends.
Use a calorie tracker or smart phone app to help you log your progress. Burn it up, reach your goal and celebrate the new year with a healthier new you.
#8 SURROUND YOURSELF WITH FRESHNESS
Fresh organic veggies, fruits and lean meats on a daily basis will give you the foundation you need to keep on track. Stock your fridge with farmer’s market selections and enjoy the fresh air while you are out shopping.
You are less likely to have cravings for sugar if you keep your regular eating balanced with a high-fiber and lean protein diet. But remember if you go off track and choose high-calorie foods, the first bite is always the best.
So make sure to savor the flavor and choose smaller portions and fewer holiday drinks.
Remember that it’s much easier to burn 400 or 500 calories instead of 2,000 or 3,000. That’s one workout instead of a week’s worth!
#9 COUNT SHEEP AND SLEEP
With all the activity and food, our body clock does not always cooperate with sleep. It’s important to get enough rest while the holiday cheer is in the air.
Giver yourself the time to log in the hours to help the body recover and refuel. Those restful hours will give you the energy to work out and also stop you from using treats as a power boost during the day.
#10 DETOX DAILY
We have many juice options available but drinking warm lemon water is a simple solution proven to aid digestion, support immune function and detoxify the liver. All of these are very import benefits when handling all of the demands of the holidays.
In addition, stay hydrated throughout the day and don’t underestimate the benefit of a gallon of water a day. It will provide more energy, detoxify and give you a full feeling to curb your appetite.
#11 OHMMM IN BALANCE AND PEACE
Even good stress is stressful on the mind and body. Practice some restorative yoga, positive affirmations and quiet time away from all of the hustle and bustle. Take a moment to slow down, take a deep breath and clear your thoughts. Focus on the real gifts that you have in your life and cherish all that brings you joy and peace. Namaste.
Note: Remember to always consult your physician before starting any program.
Susan Howard is a Partner and Director of Lifestyle Performance Training at Studio K in Pacific Palisades. Her philosophy of lifestyle performance training is to incorporate all of the functional movements in a creative, efficient program to help individuals train for life. Contact Studio K for more information regarding training and nutrition programs: (310) 454-1048 | susan@studioktraining.com