Tis The Season…For Keeping Up With Your Healthy Lifestyle During The Holidays!

It’s that time of year again, when your calendar is filled with holiday parties and your belly is filled with tasty treats. Here are some simple ways to make sure fitness and nutrition find their way into your busy schedule this reason as well. Start by adding exercise to your "to do" list and give it the same importance as your other errands. All activities add up! Carry a toddler around the house, take the stairs instead of the elevator, park farther from the mall, and focus on fitness during the weekends.  

1. Be realistic. You probably won't be able to fit in your normal weekly workouts and that's OK. Aim for completing at least half of your normal regimen. 

2. Don't deprive yourself of all the special holiday dishes. You can enjoy some special meals without going overboard. Indulge in some of your favorite family recipes, but check your portions. 

3. Create a new recipe tradition. Offer your assistance in the kitchen and whip up some healthier holiday alternatives.

4. One is the magic number. Find it nearly impossible to say no to Mom's homemade goodies? Indulge, but stick to only one helping. Don't go for seconds or thirds! And, keep the portion sizes realistic. Try using a smaller plate so it seems like you're eating more than you actually are.

5. Table fitness is also something to think about. Sit at the table with good posture and suck in your stomach when eating. Take the time to savor your food by chewing slowly and even put your fork down after each bite and take a breath. Finally, drink lots of water.  

6. At a party, allow yourself to try a few sweets and high-calorie appetizers, and eat them slowly to really enjoy them. But linger longer at the beautiful platters of vegetables and fruits than at those bite-sized quiches. Try to avoid anything that’s been deep-fried. Remember that cocktails pack calories, too. If you drink alcohol, limit yourself to a drink or two. Alternate those with calorie-free sparkling water. 

7. Joining friends at a restaurant or theater? Park several blocks away and walk the rest of the way.  

8. Shop online, by phone or by catalog, and use the time you save for exercise. 

9. Mark an exercise appointment on your calendar, and keep it as faithfully as you would any other appointment. Ask your gym about guest passes or other options for visiting family members or houseguests, and invite them to exercise with you.  

10. Traveling? Pack a resistance band in your suitcase. The band takes up very little space, yet can provide you with an entire upper and lower body workout routine. In the airport, take advantage of all the waiting time before and between flights to get in some brisk walking up and down the terminal. 

Remember to relax and enjoy the season. Embrace holiday traditions and those special times with friends and family. And rather than trying to lose weight, do your best to maintain your fitness level and make it to New Year’s Day without any new pounds showing up on your scale.

Tricia Streit Perez, MS, ATC/L is the Founder and Owner of One Fit Mama™, Greater Philadelphia Mommies’ favorite Stroller Fitness Program. For more information, visit www.onefitmama.com, or email tricia@onefitmama.com. Tricia is also a Regional Manager for Moxie Moms (www.moxie-moms.com). She lives in Oreland, PA with her fun and feisty son, Caleb.