Saturday, December 1, 2012

Ho Ho Ho-liday Tip No. 1 - Don't drink your calories

Happy Holidays Fitness followers! As promised today is the first day of Nicole's Fit-tip Advent Calendar. No chocolate here just tips to help you stay healthy this holiday season. With Christmas parties, recitals and baking to do, finding the time to prep food or hit the gym can be hard but I'm here to offer you ideas every day.

This lovely tip actually comes from my dad. When he retired two years ago, he had a health revolution. After working at a desk for 38 years, taking care of a family (3 women), a house (he's a handy man), his parents and fixing people's cars and computers his health hit the back burner. I would constantly nag him to change his eating his habits, but it was something he needed to do on his own.

Since his revolution, he has lost over 8 inches and 30 plus pounds but most importantly he and my mom are living a healthier lifestyle. They eat better and love going to yoga classes together. He has even started his personal training program and is thinking of applying for a spin instructor job at his local community centre. This brings me to...

Fit-tip 1: Thou shall not drink my calories.

Over the holidays we are constantly at parties drinking wine and cocktails or meeting a friend for a "Red Cup" egg-nog. These add up to hundreds and hundreds of extra calories that could take days or weeks to work off. We are busy enough over the holiday's that we don't have an extra hour to hit the gym a day on top of our regular workouts. Lets get real.

When you are at a party, always have a glass in your hand, preferably water. This doesn't mean you have to drink it but it will look like you have a beverage which will prevent people from constantly asking you if you'd like another drink. Have water through out the evening and then enjoy one drink with dinner. If you are going to have an extra glass of wine, cut out dessert or appy's. If you are eating more calories you have to cut something out.

If you love Egg-nog lattes, only have one a week and a small one. If you know you are going for coffee with a friend, keep your meals small and clean through out the day and only have the latte and forget the doughy stuff in the pastry section. This will only tac on an extra 400+ calories. Do you really want to have to do an extra hour on the treadmill to burn it off?!

Be mindful of your eating and drinking because each calorie counts!

Nic
xoxo


No comments:

Post a Comment