DUBAI 1 January 2019: ‘Tis the season to be jolly! However, the holidays seem to be an automatic green light for
overindulgence and stress, with the close of business year objectives, last-minute festive shopping for family and friends, food, merriment and cheer.
While we all look forward to family time, grandma’s roast dinners, opening presents and copious amounts of hot chocolate, it can start to take its toll, especially on our bodies.
Here are some tips on how to conquer the festivities without putting a strain on our waistlines and starting off the new year as a “Debbie Downer” because we suddenly have to get on a diet as a resolution.
Hydrate, hydrate and hydrate some more: Make water your best friend throughout the season. With the many parties, you are bound to attend; drinking water will not only re-energize the body but also help flush out the toxins from all the goodness consumed throughout the day. Not to mention, the wonders to the skin, giving it a supple feel, keeping you far away from those pesky wrinkles. A handy trick is to invest in a water bottle, that way you do not skimp on your recommended six to eight glasses.
Catch some Zs: A good night’s rest is important for both your emotional and physical wellbeing. By shutting down and getting in those seven to nine hours of sleep, your body reduces stress levels accumulated throughout your fast-paced day, automatically putting you in a good mood and ready to start the new day, when you wake up.
While your body sleeps, your brain rests too, using the downtime to organize thoughts and memories, so you are squared away for another day of activities. And if that doesn’t sell it to you, having a good, regular sleep pattern for the holidays will help maintain your weight, by managing the hormones in charge of your appetite, so you do not suddenly wake up craving the leftover apple pie in the fridge.
Put on your Dancing Shoes: We are all in agreement that the festive season is one of the least appealing times to exercise, which is why dancing is your best bet to working off the holiday calories. Get the family grooving to the holiday tunes, between wrapping the presents and prepping dinner. This will get your blood pumping, improve your muscle tone, and you’ll even be the life of the party.
Stay Green: Vegetables don’t get that much love at dinner parties, but they are a great source of nutrients such as dietary fibre, vitamins, folic acid and best of all, they are very low in calories. Adding greens to your meals can help reduce the risk of getting sick because as you know, end of year fun is a magnet for the flu.
The most important meal of the day: No, it’s not the extravagant roast dinner at your parent’s house, it’s breakfast! Having a healthy, hearty, well-balanced breakfast ensures you are feeling bright and fresh throughout the day, but also reduces the chances of you gorging on any and everything at the holiday table
later that night. Eggs, salmon and avocados are high in protein while porridge or yoghurt sprinkled with berries is packed with fibre and can support a healthy digestive system.
Overall, try not to sweat the small stuff. It’s the holidays, and while we all try to stay healthy, this does not mean depriving yourself of a delicious buffet spread. It’s fine if you happen to go a little overboard at the dinner party, we’re all human, and there’s only so much you can resist stuffing.
Note: The author is Head of The Lab at the newly opened 65,000 sq. ft fitness and wellness facility on Sheikh Zayed Road, StudioRepublik.
