Last Updated on March 27, 2015 by Karen
I don’t know about you but the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year is probably the time of the year when I face the most temptations to overindulge in foods and drinks. There’s always an occasion of some sort for me to snack and drink to my heart’s content: holiday parties, happy hours, cookie exchanges and bake-offs. It’s so easy to overindulge on that second serving of pie or 4th…5th glass of wine!
What isn’t so fun is that sluggish, bloated, and heavy feeling we all get after the gluttony. I’ve got three quick fixes for bouncing back fast and getting on track again after the holidays.
#1: Water, water, water
Holiday meals are filled with high-sodium foods (hint: ham and bacon) and alcoholic beverages that can dehydrate you (think: wine! Champagne!) Water rehydrates your body and keeps your digestive system moving. I drank about 5 cups of water so far today and I am definitely feeling a lot less bloated.
Bored with standard H2O? Make a pitcher of this refreshing water infused with lime, cucumber, and mint.
Also keep in mind that certain fruits and veggies like cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelon, and grapes have high water content.
Step 2: Stock up on healthy foods
After the holidays, my fridge is always stuffed with leftover foods as well as extra ingredients for making those rich, decadent dishes. I wouldn’t throw them out, but I always stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables in an effort to use them up sensibly.
Got some baked ham? Serve it over a big crunchy salad.
Have lots of shredded cheese on hand? Mix it into an egg white omelet with mushrooms, broccoli, and red peppers. What about the pumpkin pie filling? Stir it into oatmeal or Greek yogurt for a healthy breakfast.
The point is, you can still enjoy the leftovers, but make sure you do it sensibly by incorporating some healthy eats into your post-holiday meals.
Step 3: Sweat it out
I always feel like a Pillsbury dough girl after stuffing myself to the gills – a sluggish dough girl at best. A good gym session always makes me feel better – both mentally AND physically.
Last week, I pushed through this totally efficient treadmill routine!
It had been a week since the last time I’d gone to the gym and I must admit that I felt awful during the first few minutes – huffing and puffing like a wimp – but then I got used to the routine and it felt nice to feel my heart pumping! It just shows that dreading workout because “it’s been so long since I worked out” isn’t a legit excuse.
I hope these tips help get you to a fresh, healthy start to the new year, or really, anytime you need a reboot!
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