The holiday season is here! Follow my easy tips and you can still enjoy your holiday eating, drinking and socializing!!

1. Be Prepared

Have a plan and a goal to keep holiday workouts going! Make yourself aware that the holiday season will be full of temptations and even if you indulge in these temptations, you can still enjoy the season and get great fitness results!

When you get your holiday workout in, make sure you increase your repetitions and work out a little harder than normal. This way you can make sure and burn those extra calories you took in!

2. KEEP YOUR ROUTINE

Don’t let the holiday season get in your way from going to the gym. Schedule in your gym time around your parties and events. Get a good cardio session on the morning of your holiday party or event. You can even plan a training session with a trainer the morning after your holiday parties.  If you plan a training session you will be less likely to over eat or drink too much.

3. EAT PROTEIN FIRST

Protein has a stabilizing effect on blood sugar. Eating protein first will help you feel full more quickly.  Start out with eating lean meat like turkey or lean red meat then eat small portions of carbs i.e. sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, stuffing, bread, rolls..  Also keep in mind, your body uses more calories to digest and assimilate protein that it does carbs and fat.

4. FILL UP ON VEGGIES/FIBER

Eat high fiber, water-rich foods such as salad, fruits and vegetables, these foods will make you fill full with fewer calories. Also it takes longer to chew these fiber rich foods, psychologically making you fuller.  Chewing also promotes saliva and the production of stomach juices that help fill your stomach up.

5. PORTION CONTROL

Use a smaller plate and fill it more with healthier choices and less with bad choices. Less is more in this case.

6. STAY HYDRATED

Water is important because it fills you up and increases your metabolism.  Water is important because it regulates body temperature, protects vital organs, helps prevent you from over-eating. If you don’t drink enough water, your body will give you a signal that resembles hunger pains causing you to eat unnecessary calories.

AshleeChambersGoddessfootnight