Navigating the Holidays While on a Weight Loss Journey

Freshly fallen snow, twinkling lights and quality time with family and friends alike. It must be the holiday season! With the holidays, comes delicious food and drink served at gatherings, parties and dinners. While these indulgences may be tempting, they can pose a risk to those who are looking to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle.

Navigate the holiday season while on a weight loss journey with the information in this article, from getting enough steps in for the day to making healthy choices during Christmas dinner.

Remember Why You Started

Every weight loss journey has to start somewhere. As the temptation grows with gingerbread cookies and hot chocolate, take some time to reflect on your journey so far and why you started in the first place.

More often than not, taking time to remember your “why” can help direct you away from temptations and, instead, get back on track.

Make a Plan

We firmly believe that the right plan and strategic approach can lead to your success. As the holiday season approaches, you may find yourself at a crossroads during social events. By creating a plan ahead of time, you can better align with your goals and make choices that will support them.

For instance, your plan may include starting each day with a 30-minute walk, drinking water before hitting the appetizer table or openly communicating with loved ones about your goals.

Prioritize Healthy Choices

When attending your next soiree, aim to fill your plate with as many healthy options as possible. This could include a combination of lean protein sources, vegetables, fruit, and whole grains.

Some healthy holiday food options can include:

• Lean meats, such as chicken, turkey, salmon, lobster, or crab

• Vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, corn, brussels sprouts, or beans

• Fruit, such as melon, apples, pineapple, or berries

Coffee and tea are also suitable choices, so long as you avoid adding sugar and dairy. When it comes to dessert, why not try fruit with whipped cream or chocolate covered strawberries or nuts?

Commit to Regular Exercise

While some days may be busier than others during the holiday season, there’s always time to put your health first. Daily exercise can come in many forms, from hitting the gym for a quick cardio session, to a virtual workout from the comfort of your home, or simply opting to take the stairs.

We suggest aiming for a minimum of 20 minutes of physical activity each day. When you get active, for how long and where is completely up to you!

Plan Healthy Activities for the Family

With a little planning and creativity, you can plan healthy activities for the entire family to enjoy. You can plan a group walk or hike for exercise, do a seasonal craft to help reduce stress, or have fun with a winter activity like skating or sledding.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Sleep is essential to every healthy lifestyle. To set yourself up for success, create and commit to a bedtime routine and bedtime that enables you to get the perfect amount of sleep each night.

Here are some things that you can do to improve your sleep patterns this holiday season and beyond:

• Create a comfortable sleep environment with blackout curtains, comfortable bedding and a cooler temperature

• Get ready for a night of enjoyable sleep with comfortable pyjamas, slippers and a sleep mask

• Don’t eat or drink two to three hours before bed and avoid caffeinated beverages after dinner

• Wind down with a relaxing activity like reading a book or listening to music

Your night time routine should begin roughly one hour before you would like to fall asleep. Don’t forget to set your morning alarm!

Drink Lots of Water

Often when we feel hungry, we are secretly thirsty. Set yourself up for success on your weight loss journey and throughout the holiday season by drinking enough water each day.

If you’re feeling hungry or tempted by the batch of freshly baked cookies, rather than reaching for a plate, grab a bottle of water and drink up!