Seven Steps of Simplicity to Beat Holiday Bloat & Weight Gain

Tis the season to enjoy time with friends, family, co-workers, appetizers, meat on a stick, dips galore and enough sugar to rock your pancreas all the way to Spring…however there can be a better way.

You absolutely want to enjoy yourself over the holidays but you also don’t want to sabotage all of your this year’s hard work in the gym, on your yoga mat and in the kitchen with all the new healthy meals you’ve been whipping up.

Here are seven of my top tips to stay connected, committed and aligned with your goals of feeling your most energized and sexy for 2013!

1. Shake Your Tail Feather! Do NOT miss your workouts. You may not be able to hit the yoga mat or gym everyday but be sure to exercise at least 4 x per week in a more structured setting and the other 2-3 days move for at least 5-20 minutes. Go for a walk or jog or if you’re really tight on time choose 1 minute of squats, 2 minutes of alternating lunges, 1 minute of plank and 1 minute of alternating arm/leg lifts from all fours. You will feel a little warmer, a lot happier and definitely more ready to take on your busiest days of the season!
2. Super Nourish Your Body During the Day! Don’t make the mistake of eating nothing all day or skimping to try and ‘save up’ your calories for your evening party or event. Your blood sugar will be a nightmare to manage, your cravings will peak, your alcohol tolerance will be zilch and you will end up eating twice as much as usual. Stick to a few smaller meals throughout the day beginning with eating a balanced breakfast such as a smoothie or oats with cinnamon, raw pecans and fresh fruit within one hour of waking and then eating every 3 hours there after. Be sure to eat within 1 hour of leaving to attend your function so that you are not starving when you arrive.
3. Pack Your Own Food! No I don’t mean to show up with a lunch bag BUT you should definitely bring an uber-healthy meal, salad or appetizer so that you are know there will be at least healthy option for you to enjoy.
4. Go For Colour & Avoid Pastry, Cream & the Spring Rolls! When choosing the food to fill your plate, be sure to stick to the salads, veggies, goat cheese and lean protein sources. Avoid too many appetizers that are fried, puffed, creamy or wrapped in bacon. They are loaded with sodium, excess saturated fat and empty calories that will only lead to mega inflammation, bloating, constipation or diarrhea and a little extra muffin top for your holiday photos!!!
5. Avoid Candy In A Glass! Choose white wine spritzers, vodka soda lime or a lighter white wine like Jacob Creek’s Moscato which has half the amount of alcohol as regular white wines. If you fill your night with sugary coolers, tonic, cranberry juice or jello shooters you’d might as well lay out your jogging pants to wear the next day as soon as you get home. Not only will your hangover be brutal from the alcohol + sugar but you will be extra puffy, bloated and gassy  for the next 24-48 hours…not to mention that you will have an appetite to scare grown men and Ronald McDonald himself!
6. Stay Hydrated! Make sure to drink enough water leading up to the big event, around 2 litters, and then at the party or gathering have a few glasses in between your ‘spirit’s’. If were worried about looking like the ‘lame-o’ who needs a drink break, have your water in a fancy glass with some fresh lime, lemon or pomegranate to dress it up. Your head, belly and bum will collectively thank you for this the next day.

Nothing too crazy here, just a few reminders and fresh tips on how you can still enjoy this years festivities without having to return your new Fidelity jeans or Lululemons. It’s not about restriction, it is about sensibility and reminding yourself about how you want to feel, not only in the moment but more importantly moving forward.

This year instead of setting your goals around weighing a certain amount or fitting into a certain size; choose instead to create more desirable way of feeling. Write it out, draw your beautiful self out in a way, a vision, of what you really see yourself feeling like in 2013. Living with more energy, having better sleep, more fulfilling relationships with yourself and those around you, more vibrant feeling skin, better sex, a stronger, sexier feeling body, fewer colds and more zest for this amazing life you are gifted to live each and everyday!

You are so worth the daydreaming of reclaiming the goddess you are and the effort of staying committed to her too!

Much holiday love and joy to you all,

Jenn xo