Prioritize Self-Care
6 ways to stay healthy during the holidays

 

The holidays may not look or feel the same this year yet  the holiday season is often challenging when it comes to holding onto the healthy lifestyle habits you’ve worked so hard to cultivate throughout the year. There are small things you can do each day through the holidays and in January to help you stay on track and feel great in your body.

If you’re someone who works better when you have a goal to stick to, you’ll love this—here’s a Mini-Challenge you can try to help you stay motivated and inspired. Follow these 6 simple steps and you’ll feel energized and healthy despite all of the temptation in your path.

1. Drink hot water + lemon first thing in the morning

  • Improved digestion: Lemon juice flushes unwanted materials and toxins from your body. Hydrating also helps curb cravings.
  • Balanced pH: Lemons are one of the most alkalizing foods for your body; disease states only occur when your body pH is acidic.
  • Boosts immunity: Warm water and lemon juice supports the immune system by hydrating and replacing fluids lost by your body. When your body is deprived of water, you quickly feel the side effects  feeling tired, sluggish, constipation, lack of mental clarity, feeling stressed, etc. Lemons are high in vitamin C, potassium, and have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

2. Eat 3 meals and 1 snack

It’s important to keep your blood sugar stable throughout the day; otherwise, you’ll end up looking for the easiest (and not necessarily the healthiest) choice when your levels drop. Do this by eating three nutritionally balanced meals and one whole-food snack every day. This allows you to burn your own body fat between meals.

3. Drink ½ your body weight in water

This will help keep you feeling full and satiated throughout the day and help keep your cells hydrated. By drinking filtered water, you’ll also help your body flush toxins in your system.

4. Enjoy cocktails or treats on the weekends only

Remember: food is love, food is celebration, and during the holidays, you’re surrounding yourself with all of that, so give yourself permission to indulge! On the weekends, allow yourself 2 cocktails and/or 2 treats (or 1 cocktail and 1 treat) at festive celebrations.

5. Eat 5–9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily

Load up on colorful, organic, seasonal fruits and veggies whenever possible, aiming for at least 5 servings per day or 4 1/2 cups, mostly veggies. This will provide your body with lots of fiber to keep you feeling full plus a complete range of phytonutrients to keep you feeling your best.

6. Go on a socially distant walk with friends or family

Holidays are time to connect and celebrate all the good we have in our lives. If you live in a cold-weather climate, bundle up, and still find opportunities to stay connected. Moving your body in ways that you love well not only burn calories, but it also will greatly improve your mood. If you’ve got heaters, try to find ways to enjoy food outdoors or put up an igloo in your backyard!

 

Now more than ever it is important to prioritize self-care to stay healthy over the holidays. Whether you decide to take a break and indulge or continue to work on your healthy habits this holiday season, my wish is that you experience great joy and peace. I look forward to reconnecting in the New Year!

Have questions? Follow me on Instagram @KarenMalkinHealth or email support@karenmalkin.com

To your good health,

Karen