Do you head into the holiday season with mixed feelings?  You look forward to enjoying your favourite festive treats but feel guilty before you hit your first function?

Well, here's how you can have your fruit cake and eat it too!  By following these 3 key steps, you enjoy the holidays and avoid that typical five PLUS pounds that can follow you after the festive season!

 

Step #1:     Be selective

  • identify your favorites and stick to those - this sets in your head what you will and won't eat before you get to the party or dinner
  • move away from the buffet and snack tables - to avoid mindless nibbling
  • be an educated consumer - know approximate calories and trade-offs to make sure it's worth the indulgence and then truly enjoy those you pick!

 

Step #2:     Maintain routines

  • eat a healthy breakfast to help kick each day off on a positive note
  • avoid skipping meals - this does NOT "save" you calories but only serves to slow down your metabolism and send you out starving to parties
  • keep a modified fitness routine - time gets tight so be armed with quick fitness options for the gym or home; short workouts still add up and it's easier to return to your regular routine after the holidays

 

Step #3:     Add activity when and where you can

  • make events active - suggest a walk, charades or a game after dinner; this moves you and the focus away from food plus makes time with family and friends more fun!
  • walk - in the morning, at lunch or evening, a 5-10 minute walk can not only burn calories but gets you some fresh air and helps relieve stress
  • quick bursts - do lunges brushing your teeth, squats waiting for the copier or push-ups at the counter waiting for the kettle or coffee; sure it looks funny, but it feels great!

 

Here are some traditional treats along with the activity trade-off.  By knowing these numbers, you better select your favourites and perhaps ditch those you don't really enjoy.

These are very general numbers as specific calories depend on the recipe and serving size and calories burned is very specific to your metabolism and the intensity of the workout.

 

Eat This

 

Do That

Mixed nuts (1/2 cup)

410 cal

1 hour of boxing

or a 1-hour step class

Chips and dip  (10 only)

210 cal

30 min of basketball

or 45-60 min playing WiiFit

Shortbread  (2 pcs)

120-150 cal

6 minof Yoga

or 30 min of Aqua Fit

Fruit cake  (1 pc)

130-300 cal

30 min on an elliptical

or 30 min of skating

Cheese ball with crackers

305 cal

40 min of kickboxing

or 30-40 min of swimming

Sausage rolls  (3 pcs)

150 cal

45 min of weight training

or 30 min of an aerobics class

Chocolate bark  (2 tbsp)

200-250 cal

45 min of calisthenics

or a 1-hour muscle class

Eggnog with alcohol

(1 cup)

450 cal

30 min of non-stop skipping

or 60 min of Zumba

Mulled wine (1 cup)

70-100 cal

20-30  min of treadmill

or 20 min of rebounding (trampoline)

Pecan pie with whipped cream

600 cal

75 min of spin class

or 45 min of squash

 

By choosing your indulgences wisely, you can keep a healthy balance and avoid excess holiday weight gain. 

Watch for holiday home workouts that require very little time or equipment on www.libbynorris.com.  If you have a specific question we'd love to hear from you.  We also have a quick survey to find out your biggest challenges to help plan workouts and segments for the New Year!