9 Ways To Stay Healthy And Still Have Fun During The Holidays

 It is holiday season and therefore there is a lot of opportunity for us to “indulge” as there are so many social functions. It seems everywhere we go there are many opportunities to eat and drink more than ususal. I love this magica(and very fun) time of year and like to indulge just as much as anyone else however I thought I would share some of the things I suggest to hopefully help you to stay healthy and avoid unwnated weight gain over the holidays.

This time of year presents itself with a lot more opportunities to indulge as it comes with a very busy social schedule. There are a lot more opportunities for us to go off track as there is simply many more social functions combined with our normal work/ life schedule. One of my very simple strategies is to look at my schedule and plan accordlingly. For instance if I know that I have a lot of social engagements or meals 3 or 4 nights in a row, then I will attempt to really behave prior to, and after that busy social schedule. I also look at what I have on each day and plan accordingly around that schedule  For instance, if I know I have a dinner engagement or party, I will have a very light lunch(salad) as I know that I will be making up for it later in the day.

One of the best ways to clear toxins from the body is to drink lots of water to flush out the system. One of the reasons you feel bad the day after drinking is the dehydrating effects of alcohol. Therefore it is important that you stay well hydrated to counteract the effects of alchohol. For those that read my blog regularly, you already know that I start every morning with warm water with fresh squeezed lemon as it helps to cleanse the liver, kidneys and body of toxins and also reduces the acidity in our system. For those that want to read more about this you can access it in my previous blog – 8 Secrets To A Great Day –http://kevinbradyhealth.ca/8-morning-secrets-to-a-great-day/

It is even more important that you stick to your excercise routine during the holidays. I find that during this time of year, I am super busy with many early mornings and late nights due to business and social functions. I therefore don’t have as much time to get my normal workouts in however I still make a point of trying to get some sort of workout in each day. I may cut down the time or intensity based on my schedule however it is still important to get some sort of workout in even if it is just a walk or easy run. Ultimatley I find it helps me feel much better phyically as well as emotionally during this very busy and stressful time of year. In addition, a daily workout will help counteract the effects of the holiday season and keep those unwanted pounds off.

As you know, I am a firm beleiver in supplementing with necessary vitamins and minerals. This time of year I ensure I stay with my daily vitamin routine and in fact increase some of my supplements. Due to all the added pressures of the season, our immune system is compromised and therefore it is easier to catch a cold or the flu. A few of the vitamins that I typically increase during this time of year are Vitamins B, C, D and Magnesium to assist in sleep.

As you know, my morning shake is what I refer to my personal “Magic Bullet”. This is a great way to start of the day and ensure that I jam pack my system with a very healthy supply of vitamins, supplements, energy providing whole plant based foods. If you want a refresher on my Morning Shake you can see my recipe on my home page or can access it here:http://: http://kevinbradyhealth.ca/the-morning-shake/

One of the best ways to recover from all the added stress and overindulgence of the holiday season is to try to keep up with your sleep. I find this time of year I am trying to pack in extra meetings and often that means having early morning or even dinner meetings. Therefore based on my schedule I try to plan ahead based on the time I need to get up and get to bed at a decent time. For instance, tomorrow I have a 8:30 a.m. meeting in Toronto so will go to bed earlier tonight knowing I have to get up at 5:45.

For those that follow my blog, you know the importance I personally put on consuming an abundance of Plants and Vegetables. I start my day off with this by consuming my morning shake and attempt to eat as many plants and vegetables as I can all day long. When out at social functions, I also try to eat the healthy vegetable and fruit options that are typically available.

One of the most difficult questions I get asked is “What are the best drink choices when I am out”? I will start by saying the healthiest position is to totally abstain from any alcohol consumption as you will feel amazing and it is a lot easier on your system. If like me, you do choose to indulge now and then, I suggest sticking to pure, clean drinks with as little or no sugar as possible. I personally try to stick to stick to wine or beer that contains zero sulphites and ideally organic. I also suggest you stay away from mixing with sugary drinks and pop as the sugar dehydrates you.

I believe that one of the reasons people fail at diets is that they try to stick to “rules” 100% of the time which over time is not feasible. I think it is important to give yourself “permission” to go off your normal program and this is what I refer to as teh 80% rule.

This simply means that I try to stick to my regular program approxmiately 80% of the time and allow myself to go off track 20% of the time. Therefore when you are out socially this time of year, enjoy yourself and allow yourself to indulge in the festivities however get back to your plan as soon as you can. So personally if I am out at night, I get right back on my regular plan the next day. Living this way allows you to enjoy yourself while still enjoying healthy lifestyle habits and choices the majority of the time.

On behalf of Barb, myself and our amazing children Tim, Matt and Lauren, we wish you and your family an amazing,happy healthy and magical holiday season.

Best wishes over the holidays, Kev