5 Tips for Staying Healthy During the Holidays

     The Holiday season is upon us! Thanksgiving is in a few days and not long after that is Christmas and the New Year! This means a constant flow of desserts, treats, sweets, indulgent meals and lots of it! And while this food is delicious and fun to enjoy, after several weeks of indulging because 'its the holidays', you probaly aren't going to be feeling very festive!

     If you strive to eat fairly healthy, as I am sure you do, seeing as you are reading this blog, then the Holiday season might be a bit stressful for you. You might worry about hurting your friend's or family's feelings by turning down their desserts, cheeseballs or candies. What about all those parties and special gatherings you are sure to be invited to? You could just put your healthy lifestyle on hold for the holidays, which is expected by most people and completly understandable..or you might deicde to tough it out and stick to your ideals as much as possible.  I am a vegan, which, to me, isn't a 'diet' that I turn off and on, but its a lifestyle change, which means I am going to eat vegan during the holidays. How am I going to do this? Keep reading to find out!

#1 Learn to Cook!
    Makeing your own food is a sure way to insure that you will be eating the way you want to. Make your own cookies, cakes, breads and candies (or don't) to fit your diet, and enjoy those when your friends and family are enjoy theirs! Offer to bring a dish to a dinner party or potluck ( don't be shy! This is often a blessing to the host or hostess!) or at least ask the host/hostess if there will be any dishes suited for you at the gathering. If so, rejoice! If not, then plan to bring your own dish! Its really not that diffiucult, it justs takes some planning! I have several great recipes that are perfect to make during the holidays and share with your friends and family!

Vegan Pumpkin Pecan Pie
Brownie Batter Balls
Sweet Potato Casserole
Easy Holiday Truffles
Harvest Salad
Pumpkin Muffin Tops
Vegan Cinnamon Rolls

#2 Practice Moderation!
     One thing about the holidays is, they don't last forever..so, if you want to indulge a little, let yourself...just in moderation. Having a small piece of pie or one cookie every few days or so isn't going to hurt you! On Thanksgiving Day, when people usuing gorge themselves with a huge feast, just practice portion control and you will be just fine! Take a small serving of the dishes you like and you will have a delicious, well portioned meal and feel much better afterwards than if you had eaten multiple portions of everything! This can be applied to any meal really. If don't want to miss out on the food, then just eat a small bit of it and enjoy it!

# 3 Stay Active!
     There is nothing better to do during the holidays then getting some exercise! No matter what your diet is, or whether you are sticking to it during the holidays or not, being active is never a bad idea! It helps with digestion after a big meal and burn off some of those extra calories! You don't even have to spend a lot of time working out either! A simple jog or walk around the neighborhood, or doing some home exercises like pilates or yoga is enough to be beneficial! It can be fun too! If you have family or friends staying with you (or you are staying with them) invite them to come along with you! Company always makes exercising more fun!

 

Here are a few links to my blog posts where I have great workouts, link to workouts and exercising ideas!

Fall in Love with Fitness
Everyday Activities+Workouts 
'Love Yourself' Workout 
Pilates 
Daily Workouts 
Workout Video 



#4 Be Verbal!
     You can't expect people to underand your food choices if you don't explain it to them! Let people know that you are trying to eat healthier, have smaller portions, cut out certain foods or have a food allergy. This way, they know what to make when they ask you to a meal, or even help you find food to eat at a party or potluck. I have found this helpful so many times! If you tell people how you like/need to eat, then most likely they will make sure you always have something to eat, and will understand when you refuse certain foods!

#5 Eat at Home
     When you are vegan (or are following any other diet or lifestyle) it can be difficult to find things to eat at restuarants, parties and other people's houses. If you know you can't eat at a cetain place, or you aren't sure, then I suggest eating ahead of time. Instead of sitting there, hungry and wishing you could eat something, you can be full and able to participate joyfully! Don't let this make you feel left out! Accept that you eat differently that other people, and move on!  Also, I wouldn't suggest making a big deal about it either! This can make people( especially the host/hostess) feel bad or even kind of angry! Make yourself some delicious food, suited to your needs, and eat it at home before you go to the party (or where ever you are going) and enjoy yourself without stressing about the food situation!

     I hope these tips have helped you! I know that I find them pretty helpful! Eating healthy during the holidays doesn't mean your a snob or that you don't care about the holidays, it just means that you prize your health over a cookie or piece of pie! Apply these tips during the holiday season and you won't have to lose your 'holiday weight' or get back on track come January!

Share this post with your friends and family to help everyone staying healthier during the holidays! Sharing this post and my blog will help spread the message of living a healthy lifestyle, so please share to inspire others to live a healthier life!

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Happy Holidays to you and stay healthy, happy and laughing!

Hannah

How to be an Early Riser

    Waking up early can seem hard or impossible for some people, but, getting a few extra hours in your day is never a bad thing! Those extra hours could mean the difference between getting a good grade, turning in a test on time, getting to work on time, or simply, just getting stuff done! At first, it might not seem worth it, but trust me, waking up early can, and should be, a part of your day!

I wake up early 6 days out of the week. Why? Getting up early allows me to get in my run before we have to start school. Just because I am homeschooled, doesn't mean we get to do whatever we want whenever we want! We have to do our school work just like everyone else, we just have the choice of whether we want to wear our pjs all day or not!
     So, I get up early and get my run done before I shower and get on with my day! I find it puts me in a good mood and helps me to fell energized all day long!

Make a Plan

    Waking up early just for the sake of waking up early is a bad idea. You need something to motivate you, to excite you, so that you don't just hit the snooze button and go back to sleep. Sometimes I make a list of everything I need to do the next day. Its also a good idea to write down some goals you have for the next day, or even the next week. Planning something fun for breakfast, or setting your coffee maker to go off is a great motivator to get up in the morning!  Having these things written and planned  makes them more real, and you are more likely to stick to them than if they were just in your head.

Lay it Out

     The night before, lay out the clothes, bags, shoes and anything else that you need for the next day. If you plan to workout first thing in the morning, lay out your workout clothes and shoes, so that you have no excuses! Waking up and seeing the things you have layed out, makes you WANT to get out of bed! If you have a fun day planned, the things you lay out in preparation for it, gets you excited and ready to go in the morning!

Set an Alarm

     I know, I know, typical for this kind of post, but its so true! Setting an alarm gets you planning for the next day and hearing the alarm gets you AWAKE in the morning, which is key to getting up earlier. Maybe the sound of a blaring alarm in the morning isn't the best wake-up call, but you can kind an alarm that sounds nice ( your phone probaly has several to choose from) and will be great to wake up to!
     As to setting your alarm, I like to do 2 alarms. One for 15 minutes before I want to be up and one for when I want to get up! That way, if you roll over and go back to sleep after the first one, you have the next one to wake you back up!
     Another great tip for your alarm is, Move It! Move your alarm clock, phone or whatever you are using as an alarm to the other side of your room. Having it right next to your bed makes it too easy for you to hit the snooze button! Put it in a place where you have to get out of bed to turn it off, but not too far away that you don't here it! :)

Go to Bed

     You have to actually be in bed alseep before you can wake up early. Going to bed at a reasonable time if the first step to waking up earlier. I know, it doesn't sound super fun, but if you want a more productive and longer day, you have to go to bed early. Start by going to bed half an hour before you usually do and see how it feels! I bet you will like it!

Relax

     So, you've made a plan, you layed out your clothes, you've set your alarm and you're in bed....now you have to go to sleep! For so many people, getting enough sleep is hard. Whether its stress, kids, or going to bed too late, people get robbed of their sleep. Heres by tip- RELAX! It might just be 10 minutes before you go to bed, but take that time to sit down and do something that relaxes you. Read a book, drink some tea, do a craft or write in a journal, whatever relaxes you. Not only will it help you feel better and sleep better, but it will help you get the sleep you need AND wake up early!

 

 

I hope these tips have helped you and you can use them to become and earlier riser! If you have found this post helpful, please share it with your friends and family!

 

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Stay Healthy, Happy and Laughing!

H. Banana