Morning Workouts - With all those holiday parties and dinners in the evening, make sure you get your workout out of the way in the morning, with plenty of time to get ready. Have the mind set that your health comes first, so you aren’t compromising your time in the gym for errands or occasions. Plus, a morning workout sets the mood for the rest of your day! Which is important during the busy and stressful time of year; it will definitely clear your head and will help you deal with the holiday stress.
Smoothies - With all the meals and yummy desserts this time of year, it is hard to have time for your full serving of fruits and vegetables. Smoothies make it so easy to get all your daily nutrition in, plus they’re super quick to make and so yummy. I can easily sneak in a full days worth of veggies into my morning smoothie. I usually add spinach, kale, and carrots.
Stay away from Gluten and dairy as much as possible - I am a little bias on this because I am gluten and dairy free, but trust me on this, you will feel way less swollen if you stay away or at least take them in moderation. Challenge yourself by either making a gluten and dairy free holiday meal or have dairy and gluten only at the most important holiday occasions. It’s all in moderation though so don’t stress yourself too much about it. Just make sure to listen to your body and hold yourself accountable.
Plan ahead and know when your cheat days will be - I knew going into this holiday season, I was going to hold steady to my nutrition and workout routine except for two days (around thanksgiving and then Christmas Day and eve). Whether you decide to have a cheat day for enjoyment or are just assuming it will be hard to find healthy options at a family get together, plan ahead to get an extra long work out in and eat extra healthy leading up to the event!
Find healthy alternatives to your holiday cravings - For me this is a lifesaver or I would be sneaking Christmas cookies and pumpkin pie every other day. I try to remember food is here to nourish my body so on the days I have decided to stick to my goals, I’ve found my favorite holiday treats that are still Whole30 approved. Jimbo’s Naturally has a bakery full of sugar free, soy free, dairy free, and gluten free options. My favorite is the pumpkin pillow and brownie. If you don’t have a whole foods or Jimbo's near you, the Whole30 Instagram has some great recipes for easy chocolate chip cookies, banana bread, and much more!
Don’t eat too late - A good rule for me is not to eat past 8 or 9 p.m. When you are sleeping, you can’t digest. So eating too close to bed time is a big no no. I know those holiday treats look tempting at night, but try to eat them a little earlier! Your body will thank you.
