Glamazons,
The one good thing about cooking all day and night, and hosting Thanksgiving at your house? Leftovers! I was in heaven eating all the leftovers this weekend. Needless to say, I veered pretty far from my commitment to clean eating (there were too many desserts sitting there calling my name!). And with my big end-of-the-year trip approaching, I want to get right back on track toward my health and fitness goals. You, too? Here are five ways I’m working off the holiday pounds, and picking up right where I left off in my fitness journey.
1. Clean Eating.
Yes, you may have cheated with apple pie, macaroni cheese and/or sweet potatoes this Thanksgiving (or was that just me? don’t judge) but now, it’s back to my regularly-scheduled program. For me, that means soul food gets replaced by green smoothies for breakfast and superfoods like salmon, kale and quinoa. And I’m actually looking forward to it: I love the energy boost I get after eating clean versus the lethargic way I feel after eating poorly (read: the itis).
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2. Change your eating patterns.
It’s easy to make the mistake of focusing solely on your diet while neglecting your eating patterns. I’m guilty of that when I get caught up at work and end up having a huge late lunch/early dinner…fail. The key is to eat smaller meals more often. It keeps a lid on stomach hunger and cravings, while allowing you to practice portion control.
3. Be mindful of libations.
You’d be surprised at how many alcoholic drinks are packed with calories! And because you drink (rather than eat) those calories, they’re harder to keep track of. Cutting alcohol out completely is ideal (and trust me: the pounds will melt away!) but if you still want to indulge, try drinks like Skinny Girl cocktails which are low-cal.
4. Find a fun workout that you’ll want to keep.
I try to be as realistic as possible when setting workout goals. If running on a treadmill isn’t your thing, diversify your workouts by incorporating things like a pop star dance fitness workout, the vixen workout or yoga. Also, setting aside time and starting a routine always helps me keep my fitness goals. I have the most energy at the start of the day so I tend to do yoga or hit the gym in the mornings. Find the most seamless way to incorporate exercise into your everyday schedule, and it’ll be easier to stick with it.
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5. Relax.
Stress-eating and drinking is real. And the holidays can be a stressful time as you put in extra hours at work before the holiday break or hustle to get gifts for everyone on your list. Try to find healthy, productive ways to relax. The reason I love yoga so much? It keeps me calm and centered while helping me lose weight at the same time. Whether you prefer walking, painting, reading or swimming (a la Olivia Pope), do it regularly to keep stress levels at bay.
How do you shed holiday pounds, Glamazons? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.
Kisses,
Glamazon Jessica
These are great tips because they are realistic! Group fitness is motivating and twice the fun. I made a vow after last year’s holidays to maintain my fitness routine, and this year I can feel the results. It’s work, but so worth it.