Festive Fit Tips! 2.0
December 6, 2021 | Sports-Related Injuries
Here we are again. That time of year when both Jack Frost and Mariah Carey come knocking at your door to create a perfect harmony of festive carols. That time of year when you can freely fall asleep/pass out on the armchair, mouth wide open, with your shirt slightly pulled up to reveal the glorious belly button you possess. That time of year when mimosas go down and mistletoe goes up at the same speed. That time of year when the air is cold, the hugs are warm, and the oven is always hot.
In the immortal words of Slade, ‘It’s Christmas!’.
But we feel this season wouldn’t be complete without our yearly Festive Fit Tips! If you missed last year’s, click HERE, they’re still nice and relevant.
So! As much as we all intend to enjoy the absolute nonsense out of this coming festive period, it’s important to have some small tips and tricks up the sleeve of your cozy cardigan to keep yourself on the healthier side of ‘Crimbo’.
Choose your station wisely!
Do you ever just eat food because it’s ‘there’? Don’t worry, you’re definitely far from alone on this one. Studies have shown that if delicious food is within arm’s reach over the festive period, there is a 100% chance that it will be eaten (this may have been our own study/observation, but feel it to be more or less accurate).
Keeping yourself seated far away from the food station will ensure a better ability to control those ‘habit reaches’ for a 2nd, 3rd, or 8th serving of food or drink. The effort made to stand up, walk over to the food station, make a selection, and walk back to your seat might just save you a few unnecessary Calories (or at least the short walk will burn a few!).
Practice some classic Hara hachi bu!
For those of you who have not been working on their Japanese, hara hachi bu is a term that means ‘eat until 80% full’. This advice is practiced regularly by the Japanese and, interestingly enough, Japan frequently tops the list of countries with the highest average life expectancy. They also have some of the world’s lowest rates of heart disease, cancer, and strokes!
But how can you practice hara hachi bu? Start out by aiming to eat your food a little slower than usual, it takes a short while for your brain to receive the signal that your appetite has been satiated. Chew it fully, while taking additional time to savor every bite. Try not to be too distracted while you eat, instead, focus on how the food makes you feel and enjoy it entirely!
An additional tip: Instead of eating until you say ‘I’m full’, why not practice eating until you say ‘I’m no longer hungry.’
Festive Fiber!
Not only does fiber work wonders at keeping you fuller for longer, but it’s also a key nutrient for good gut health. During a time when higher-sugar, higher-fat, and higher-salt meals are in abundance, fiber is essential in keeping digestive health on point. Fiber-rich foods are also everywhere over the festive period, you just have to know where to find them. Whole grains such as oats, brown rice, quinoa, and non-starchy vegetables such as leafy greens, carrots, broccoli, and beans are the best places to start. Load them onto your plate and secure yourself a happy, thankful tum.
Move between meals!
Plenty of meals equals plenty of movement. If you set yourself the goal to get up and move after every meal, you’ll set yourself up for success in keeping those holiday pounds off. Even if it’s a short walk between meals, you’ll be surprised at how much those steps add up. Just 5,000 steps (taking about 45 minutes) can burn anywhere between 200 and 400 Calories, and in festive terms, that’s a slice of Christmas cake followed by a glass of red wine!
Destress!
Cooking to feed a small village? The mother-in-law has set up camp on your favorite part of the sofa? Kids running around screaming while headbutting your knees at every given opportunity? The last thing you should be doing over this magical time of year is stressing out. After all, it’s one day out of 365. Remember to enjoy the positivity that surrounds you, do your absolute best to sleep well each night, connect with your friends and family members, and don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s been a tough year for us all and if you feel the need to take the edge off with a treat that you truly crave, allow yourself to have it, 100% guilt-free.
By following these tips over the next few weeks, you’ll give yourself a healthier, more accelerated start into the big 2022 that awaits.
We well and truly wish you the happiest of holidays and hope that these tips find their way into your action plan for this year, as well as many more to come.