The holidays can be a very scary time when it comes to staying focused on any weight loss or weight maintenance goals. The pumpkin pie, turkey and gravy, stuffing, candy canes, gingerbread lattés, and holiday cheer can very well create a recipe of disaster as it relates to any weight loss or staying healthy. Sure, we all should just avoid all those holiday goodies, but is that a realistic reality? What kind of happy healthy holiday will that create? It would probably make you feel deprived and lack both joy and cheer. My suggestion is that you indulge a little and still keep the holidays healthy through these 12 tips:

  1. Consume less calories leading up to a holiday party; this will help you build up a larger calorie budget the day of the party.
  2. Walk an extra mile or two each day.
  3. Park further away.
  4. Eat spicy food daily.
  5. Eat at least 4-5 cups of leafy greens daily.
  6. Incorporate short cardio bouts into each strength training routine.
  7. Track your food into one of the food apps for one whole week (LoseIt or MyFitnessPal).
  8. Do at least 30 minutes of moderately intense cardio six days out of the week.
  9. Sign up and do a holiday 5K event.
  10. Strength train 2-3 times a week.
  11. Plan what you’re going to eat before the meal arrives.
  12. Incorporate 10 minutes of moderately intense exercise daily.