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Ho-Ho-Holiday Tips You Didn’t Know You Need!

The average adult gains ONE POUND between Thanksgiving & New Year’s.

1 lb fat

Are you the average adult? 

ONE pound may not seem like a lot, but that’s 3,500 EXTRA calories your body isn’t burning and 3,500 extra calories you need to cut and expend (through diet and exercise, respectively) in order to lose come New Year’s.

Why give yourself more to worry about??? 

Here are my holiday survival tips you didn’t know you need:

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Cheers with a GREEN SMOOTHIE to jump-start your day on a nutritious note! Breakfast is vital to stay on (a healthy) track throughout the day AND this smoothie allows more wiggle room at your holiday party. Sipping 4 cups of spinach or kale before lunch provides iron, potassium, calcium, plus tons of antioxidants, and makes you feel good about nourishing your body from the inside out!

        • Your beauty regimen will thank you! Sugar and alcohol are two major culprits to dull and dry skin (in addition to the freezing temps!). Starting your day with a bang will make your beauty routine that much easier during the jammed-packed party season!

Deck the week with easy meals. With so many parties this time of year make your nights off simple! Try one-pot meals like my fajitas, a simple stir-fry, or a nutritious and filling salad. Even easier, make a big pot of soup over the weekend and warm up all week. veggie dinners

Tis the season to SNACK! People try to skip meals before a big party, but this will only lead to a binge-fest later. It is ESSENTIAL to eat every few hours to keep your metabolism going. Try incorporating more mini meals (~250 calories each) this time of year instead of focusing on 3 large ones.

Sip your way merry. I’m not talking about eggnog (300+ calories per cup!) or other alcoholic beverages, but to hydrate with water to keep your body happy! Just because it’s cold out doesn’t mean we need less fluids. Too cold for water? Try tea to warm up without the jitters (but coffee’s good too!).

  • Have a big party? Choose a glass of bubbly over many other cocktails for under 100 calories! Be sure to alternate alcoholic beverages with (sparkling) water to prevent dehydration!

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Ramp up your exercise routine. Your same old run a few times a week isn’t going to make a dent in stalling holiday weight gain when you might be consuming a couple of days worth of calories in a single meal! In fact, a new study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that 148 adults gained an average of 1.7 pounds REGARDLESS of how much they exercised!

  • Keep moving! Add strength training to your routine to rev your metabolism & keep the burn going long after your sweat session ends. I’m a huge Tracy Anderson fan, so here’s a great webisode to really feel the burn!

Be mindful. I’m not going all Buddha on you (because you can’t preach what you don’t practice!), but it’s essential to take time and remind ourselves of our goals, our strengths, and pat ourselves on the back for working hard, not only for our health, but in our daily lives.

  • When eating, put your fork down between bites, sip water between bites, and remove distractions (TV off!). Make sure to savor every bite…especially if you’re eating something indulgent!
  • Quit stressing about things you can’t control — your nagging family, a burned dish, a drunk coworker at the holiday party. Letting these things roll of your shoulder will make the holidays MUCH more enjoyable.

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Spread Holiday Cheer! Doing something nice for someone else can give you a serotonin (feel-good chemical) boost. Not only will you being helping others by giving back, but will put you in a good mood too! And remember, the best way to spread holiday cheer is singing loud for all to hear (don’t you just love Elf!)!

Laugh a lot. No explanation needed!

Do you have any go-to holiday tips? Share below! And don’t forget to follow me on Twitter (@ChelsAmer) for tips year-round! Happy holidays everyone!!! 

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