december 2017
Greenstone health | 15
It is that time of year when being healthy is a tough job... But with a little planning and
discipline, you can still enjoy the festive period without worrying about losing shape.
C
hristmas is a time of year when most people indulge in huge portions of
food, drink lots of alcohol and consume more sugar than most do in a
year. But there is no need to be a scrooge and just stick to your normal
healthy routine, but if you are living a great lifestyle you do not want to
ruin all that hard work over such a short period either. Here are a few
tips to remaining healthy over the Christmas period.
1. Eat slowly
One thing that happens is food is piled onto a plate and there is so much you just do
not know where to start, so you scoff it all down very quickly then go for seconds
and thirds (sound familiar?) Take your time, chew your food and enjoy what you are
eating by relaxing and not partaking in a speed eating race. By doing this you will get
full quicker, resulting in eating less.
2. Limit portion sizes
Following on from point one and repeating the theme a little bit, it can be a little
overwhelming to see loads of food on a plate, so start by eating as little as possible.
Aim to limit your portion sizes and eat small and regular meals throughout the day
to protect the gut. Your body will only be able to digest so much in one go so limit
each meal.
3. Drink plenty of water
This should be a given any day of the year anyway but during the festive season
people tend to turn more to alcohol. Aim to drink as much water as possible to flush
toxins out of your system and keep your skin and body healthy and hydrated. If
you are planning to go out to parties, drink a glass of water between each alcoholic
drink to reduce the hangover effects the next day.
4. Get plenty of sleep
Another thing that should be done on a daily basis for keeping healthy is that it is
important to get enough rest so your body can recharge and have enough energy
each day. Lack of sleep can result in low energy and fat storage and nobody wants
that do they? So still aim to get a minimum of eight hours sleep and you will notice
the difference.
5. Continue to exercise
During the festive season people use it as an excuse to stop exercise all together
and that shouldn’t be the case. I am not suggesting you get up on Christmas day
and go running but at least over the festive period continue your workouts whether
it be running, home body weight workouts or a sport you like to play. If you stop
altogether then you will have an excess of calorie intake over calorie burn resulting
in weight gain.
6. Take peppermint
Peppermint is used to help aid digestion so if you are increasing calories a lot over
the space of a few days the body will not be used to it and find it hard to cope.
Supplement with peppermint whether in a tea or oil capsules normally an hour
before meals and it can aid the digestive system in coping.
7. Eat fruit
Fruit is a food that tends to be forgotten about over Christmas. Still aim to have
that morning portion or whenever works for you throughout the day as they contain
a good amount of vitamins and minerals which may be on the low end over the
festivities. Ideally have fruit that is in season or buy frozen berries to add with
yoghurt or porridge.
8, Stock the freezer with healthy meals
You probably won’t have much time to cook, so it will be really helpful if you
can whip out something healthy from the freezer in 10 minutes instead of over
indulging on sugar peanuts.
9. Pour gravy and sauces lightly
You really don’t need three litres of gravy on your turkey or to cover your potatoes in
cheese sauce like its a blanket. Sauce is one of those sneaky calorie land mines which
everyone ignores. Keep your meals simple and light by using sauce in moderation.
10. Start a project
We eat more when we are bored or socialising. Take a break from all the family
gathering and start putting together that album you always planned on doing, or
spring cleaning your room. The project will make you less likely to get bored and
over indulge. It will also give you a break from the family showdowns every now and
again.
Enjoy the holiday season all the while looking forward to a healthy 2018.
Sources: www.breathefitness.co.uk/www.1africa.tv