Let’s kick this week off with a bang!  We are now 3 weeks away from Christmas, which means it’s prime time for parties, shopping, and traveling!  I can guarantee you that you will be doing at least one of the three in the upcoming weeks, which could also lead to your stress levels increasing.  Read this post from a few months ago to help beat the holiday stress.  With the craziness of the holidays, I find it even more necessary to keep up with my daily routines {including working out!}  So many times I get caught up in the hustle and bustle and don’t make time for myself.  The following are some of MY tips for staying healthy during the holidays:

Warm Lemon Water + Dash of Cayenne
This morning drink helps with immunity and aids in digestion.  Also, drinking water first thing in the morning helps flush the system and rehydrate.  If you’re really feeling it, throw in a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.

Schedule Your Work Outs
When I add my specific work outs to my Outlook calendar, I am like 99% more likely to accomplish them.  I look at the work out as a ‘to do’ rather than an optional ‘if I have time.’  I’ll say “Run 3 miles + TIU daily moves.  That way, I know what I’m doing and don’t waste any time.

Lay Out Your Work Out Clothes
Again, time management in this time of year is HUGE.  Lay out your clothes or pack them the night before so you can grab and go.

HYDRATE
I can’t stress this one enough.  WATER WATER WATER!  They say you are supposed to take your body weight in pounds and divide that by 2 to determine how many ounces of water you drink.  For example, a 200 lb person would need to drink 100 oz of water in a day; however, if you are working out, you need to drink even more than that.

Holiday Tip: Drink a glass of water between glasses of wine, champagne, or cocktail.  Your body will thank you!  And drink plenty of water before the party.

Sodium Intake
Watch the salt.  Not only can it increase your blood pressure, but it also makes me feel slightly hungover when I intake too much sodium.

Eat your Veggies
Broccoli, asparagus, kale, spinach – all the greens you can imagine!  They have vitamins A, E, C, K, minerals, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and manganese.  They also are low calorie and are packed with fiber.

Snack BEFORE Parties
We’ve all been there – you show up to the party starving, so you eat all the cheese dip and delicious (but typically unhealthy) appetizers.  Eat something before the party – a protein bar, peanut butter fold over, or some carrots with humus to ensure you don’t go crazy at the party.

Holiday Tip: You don’t have to completely avoid all party food.  Treat yourself every now and then and enjoy your life.  It’s all about balance 🙂

Cardio + Resistance
Feeling a little bloated?  Go for a walk with a friend or family member.  Really, any type of cardio will help you feel energized and refreshed!  After that, do some resistance exercises to pump up those muscles.  Here are some of my favorites:

• push ups
• sit ups
• straight leg raises
• plank shoulder taps
• squats
• hold plank for 30 seconds
• side plank
• chair dips
• step ups
• walking lunges

Holiday Tip: If you are traveling and don’t have weights, improvise with anything else around you – your dog, a bottle of wine, chairs from the kitchen table, etc.  Don’t make working out more complicated than it should be.

My goal for this holiday season is to run 4 times a week and do the Tone It Up Holiday Hustle.  What are your goals for the season?  Let’s finish up 2017 STRONG and roll right into 2018!

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