Category: Holidays Without the Weight Gain

Five Simple Ways To Have A Happy And Healthy Fourth of July

Five Simple Ways To Have A Happy And Healthy Fourth of July

From time to time, I like to check out what other fitness and health professionals are posting on their blogs regarding specific holidays, so I did a search for health tips for the Fourth of July.  What I mostly found was fitness pros sharing a list of rules that had very little to do with fun and more to do with restricting behavior and dieting.  Ugh!

The whole point of celebrating a holiday is to have a good time and participate in the festivities. That usually includes eating foods that are traditionally served on that specific holiday.  It’s something we look forward to and it’s a wonderful way to bring people together.

It also includes a change in routine.  It’s possible that you may skip your normal exercise routine that day and that’s totally ok and normal.

What’s not ok is feeling guilty because you skipped your workout, drank a mimosa before noon, and ate three helpings of Aunt Sue’s famous potato salad or something similar.  I’m sure you are getting the picture.  We all like to celebrate differently. 🙂

I’m not suggesting complete gluttony and I think it’s a good idea to move throughout the day.  However, it’s important that you celebrate the way you, your family, and your friends choose to.

Take the pressure off of yourself and have fun.  It’s totally possible to do healthy “nonrestrictive” things for yourself while you celebrate.

Here are five simple ideas:

Buy quality ingredients.  No matter what recipes you decide to follow or food you choose to serve, buy whole foods and quality processed foods.

Move because it’s fun and feels good.  Sitting around all day can make your body stiff and make you feel sluggish.  Activities like hiking, flag football, bocce ball, horse shoes, swimming, and marching in a parade are all fun ways to stay active without it feeling like a chore.

Spend time being grateful.  Take a moment to be thankful that we live in one of the best places in the world.  This great nation allows us to pursue life, liberty, and happiness each and every day.  For that, I am truly grateful!

Laugh.  Laughter is good medicine and helps relieve stress.

Stay hydrated.  Drink plenty of water and eat hydrating fruits and veggies like celery and watermelon.  Staying hydrated helps your metabolism function at it’s best.

This Fourth of July, I encourage you to “declare your independence” from the restrictive side of the fitness and diet industry.  Eat foods that you enjoy and agree with your body, and choose exercise you like.

Have a happy, healthy, and safe holiday.

God bless you and America!

Shared with love,

Jennifer

Photo above is courtesy of:   Stephanie McCabe on Unsplash

 

Nine Simple Food Gifts For The Holidays

 

Nine Simple Food Gifts For The Holidays

Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

 

Food is a simple gift to give during the holiday season.  It’s easy to get, easy to give, and very, very, easy to enjoy.  

Here are seven simple holiday food gifts that are sure to put a smile on your recepient’s face this holiday season.

1)  Fruit Basket or box of fruit. Harry & David is a great option. One of their most popular gifts this time of year are fresh pears. They’re delicious and can be served in multiple ways. You can even suggest poaching them and topping them off with a bit of cinnamon for a dessert!   

 2)  Indoor Herb Garden. Great idea for families and people who love to cook! Kids will enjoy the gardening project, and it’s convenient to have your herbs fresh in the kitchen. 

3)  Flavored Oils. Heart healthy flavored olive oil is a treat that cooks might not buy for themselves, but would enjoy having in their kitchen.

4)  Coffee and Tea. Specialty coffees and teas with a nice mug are a great Christmas gift that won’t sabotage a person’s healthy eating plan. If you’re not sure about the caffeine, go for an herbal tea that is naturally caffeine free.

5)  Spices or Rubs.  If you know the person on your list likes to cook, interesting spices and/or rubs are a great gift.  Whenever someone gifts us spices or homemade rubs it inspires me to try new recipes.

6)  Gift Cards. Restaurant or coffee shop gift cards are excellent Christmas gifts to send someone. You can be sure it will get used and your recipient will be able to choose what they like most.  I don’t know anyone that doesn’t appreciate being treated to a meal and/or a beverage.

7)  Chocolates.  Chocolate will usually put a smile on the face of the receiver.  However, if you’d like to add a healthy twist to your gift, dark chocolate is the answer.  Dark chocolate is loaded with nutrients that can positively affect your health.  Made from the seed of the cocoa tree, it is one of the best sources of antioxidants on the planet.  Studies show that dark chocolate can improve health and lower the risk of heart disease.

8)  Wine, Craft Beer, or Spirits.  I realize that alcohol is not food.  However, the grown ups on your list that like to enjoy a cocktail or two, are sure to appreciate a nice bottle of their favorite adult beverage.

9)  Fruit and Veggie Subscription.  Give someone the gift that keeps on giving and treat them to a subscription to their local fruit and vegetable box delivery.  Companies like Farm Fresh To You, Grub Market, and Imperfect Produce all offer this service and have different options to choose from.

Holiday shopping doesn’t need to be stressful.  Keep it simple by giving the gift of food.  🙂

Have a gift idea you’d like to share? Please leave a comment below.  I’d love to hear your ideas!

Here’s to a happy and healthy holiday season!

Jennifer

 

Seven Ways To Fit Exercise Into Your Busy Holiday Season

Fit Exercise Into Your Busy Holiday Season

The holiday season is in full swing and with it comes extra activities that can fill up your calendar and interrupt your normal exercise routine.  I’m someone that craves exercise daily because it helps me feel energized, creative, and positive.  If I take too much time off from some form of physical activity then I start to feel kind of blah.  Our bodies like to move!

Different seasons can require us to reprioritize how we are going to spend our precious time.  I believe it’s important to be flexible and to allow yourself to skip a workout during the holiday season without feeling guilty about it.  Creating beautiful memories that you can hold onto forever is just as important to your overall health and wellness as exercise. Time is something we can never get back.

If you find yourself short on time and needing to skip your normal exercise routine, here are  a few clever ways you can get your body moving during the holiday season.

 

Seven Easy Ways to Exercise During the Holidays

1)  Shopping.  Walking while you shop is a great way to exercise during the holidays. To get the most out of a shopping trip, try taking breaks and bringing your packages back to the car in between stores.  Shop your main streets while supporting the small businesses or take several trips walking around your local mall.

2)  Baking. Standing burns more calories than sitting, so working in the kitchen counts.  Turn on some fun music and get a little dancing in while you’re at it.

3)  Deck the halls. Hauling boxes out of storage and putting up decorations indoors and outdoors is a great way to get festive while logging your exercise minutes for the day.

4)  Cleaning.  Cleaning house counts as lifestyle exercise. Turn on some of your favorite holiday music and keep a steady pace going to maximize your caloric burn. Just don’t forget to take water breaks.

5)  Get some fresh air. Step outside and go for a walk.  Even if it’s just a short one.

Invite family and friends to join you for outdoor activities. This will help you combine family and/or social time with exercise. Don’t be afraid to go solo if you don’t have any takers. Recreation alone can be used as relaxing time you spend on your own.

6)  Take advantage of seasonal weather.  Fun in the snow isn’t just for down hill skiers. Snow shoeing, cross country skiing, walking, sledding, ice skating, and hiking, are all examples of ways you can have fun in the snow while getting your exercise.

7)  Your mother was right.  Seriously, standing up straight burns more calories than slouching. For an extra workout try keeping your stomach muscles tight while standing. Take advantage of moments like waiting in line or standing at a cocktail party to work those stomach muscles.

This holiday season I recommend you take the pressure off of yourself to “do it all” and focus on having fun and staying healthy. Shoot for 20- 30 minutes of exercise per day total. Every minute and all types of exercise counts at the end of the week. Studies have actually shown that people that took 3 ten minute walks per day showed an improvement in blood pressure because they were moving more often throughout the day.

The more you move throughout the day, the more you benefit. Do your best to take advantage of every opportunity you get to move your body. Whether it’s part of a formal exercise routine, or something like shoveling snow in your front driveway.

Here’s to a happy and healthy holiday season!

Shared with love,

Jennifer