Lets be honest with each other, Christmas is one of the hardest times of the year to keep your Nutrition on track. There are so many amazingly tasty food and beverages that come out this time of year that its so hard to say NO.
Or you do say No and there’s a whole pile of your family members looking at you like you’re a weirdo. So with all this in mind I thought I would help you guys out with a few tips on how to keep your Nutrition goals going over Christmas while still having fun and splurging a little.
Also read: Best CrossFit Diet to Maximise Your WODs
#1 – Don’t Stop Training
This is a very simple tip. Your body is in a routine of training, you are used to expending energy and burning calories 3,4,5 or 6 times a week if you just stop because its Christmas you have just cut out all those calories a week you burn off. Which in turn means that when you up your Christmas Calories they will surely make you gain weight.
Now this doesn’t mean that you have to be training like a beast still over Christmas, but you can still be making sure you’re getting some sort of exercise in. Going for a walk, run, taking the kids to the park/beach, playing cricket with the family are all great ways to keep moving and burning calories. You don’t have to be in a Gym setting to be Exercising and burning calories. Get outside and have some FUN.
#2 – Moderation is KEY
We want all need to have a good relationship with Food. By this I mean that if you want or feel like having any kind of food at all (eg. Cake, pudding, crackling, gravy, lollies and sweets) then we should have them without feeling guilt or remorse. We are all trying to live healthy lives and the odd bad food every now and again is not going to kill us. Nor should we guilt ourselves all day for doing so.
The Key is in Moderation. Small portions and on the odd occasion. The problem with avoiding those indulgent foods all together will then lead you to binge one day on way more than you should, ending up with you going backwards in your Nutrition goals. So again enjoy your food but just make sure its in Moderation.
#3 – Beware of the BOOZE
I know it’s the Silly Season and everyone is unwinding from a hard year of work but you have to watch the EMPTY calories that you are going to intake thru alcoholic beverages. Lets be honest most people are going to go for an Ice Cold Beer this Christmas but I want you to make sure you are making an educated decision when choosing the right beer.
An average 355ml full strength Beer has around 150 Calories with around 15 grams of carbohydrates, while the same size Light Beer has around 100 calories and 5 grams of carbohydrates. So as you can already tell having a few Light beers is a better option than having the same amount of full strength beers.
If beer isn’t your thing and your more of a spirits person try and go for a spirit mixed with a light and bubbly soda water. The biggest problem with drinking spirits is that you normally see it mixed with high sugar fluids which intern adds a whole pile of extra calories that you don’t really need or want in your system.
#4 – Stay Hydrated
In a season where everyone is partying and having fun with family it is very hard to keep your water intake up especially with all the Alcohol being consumed. So it is most important that you keep your hydration a priority. Make sure you get at least 2.5lt for women and 3lt for men of water a day to stay Hydrated.
Staying Hydrated will keep your body from craving sugars and all those bad foods you don’t really want to eat. After a few Beverages with family it will leave you feeling a lot better the day after. Your body will thank you for it.
I Hope This helps and remember Have Fun This Christmas!!
Merry Christmas from the Whole Revenant Family!!