Tis the season! Over the next few weeks, schedules are filled with shopping, holiday parties, relatives, financial pressures, obligations, and plenty of food and spirits. Socializing during the holidays can be stressful and challenging, especially if your friends and family are not as health-conscious as you. The abundance of holiday treats and homemade goodies can be hard to resist. Fortunately, there’s plenty you can do to avoid holiday weight gain, manage blood sugar, stay healthy, happy and fit, and enjoy holiday celebrations without feeling bloated, guilty or stressed out.

Prevent Holiday Weight Gain: Strategies to Maintain So You Don’t Gain 

Hydrate. Even though the temps are cooler, be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day to avoid dehydration. Cravings, fatigue, headaches, dry skin, low back pain and constipation are all symptoms related to dehydration. Upon rising, drink a glass of water. It's not only important for hydration, but can cut daily food intake by 13 percent! Add the juice from a lemon or lime to your morning cup of water to nourish liver function increasing your body’s ability to cleanse itself of toxins. Remember, when you’re body’s hydrated you no longer retain water, your skin looks healthier and you minimize the puffy, bloated look. 

Stay active and move your body every day which helps relieve stress, regulate appetite, lower blood sugar and insulin, increase metabolism and boost your mood. Rev up your metabolism with a 30 minute metabolic strength training workout found in my book, Fat Loss Revolution. If you’re short on time, try the Sprint 8 workout or the 10-5-5 Workout. Both of these workouts take less than 30 minutes. 

Move your body when you can – take a bike ride, walk your dog, join a fitness class, practice some stress-relieving yoga, hike with friends, get up and stretch or hire a strength coach/fitness expert. Take a walk after mealtime to support digestion and boost metabolism.

Sleep. Don’t skimp on sleep.Prioritize 7-9 hours of restful sleep every night. Consistently sleeping less than 7 hours per night disrupts hormones, increases desire for carb-heavy, sugary junk foods and may be the reason you’re stressed out, feeling blue or unable to drop stubborn belly fat. Research shows that those who fail to get enough restful sleep consume more calories, especially from unhealthy foods. Sleep Solutions that work