12 Days of Christmas Fitness - Day 8

EIGHT Glasses of Water.

Stay hydrated during the holidays! Getting the proper amount of water every day is important no matter what time of year it is, but around the holidays it can make an even bigger impact!

Aim to drink at least eight eight ounce glasses of water every single day, and that’s the bare minimum. Generally you want to drink half of your body weight in ounces every single day. So it could be less, depending on your weight, but eight glasses is a good amount!

To help get your recommended amount of water in every day, drink a full glass of water when you wake up, a full glass of water before every meal, and a glass with every meal. This will help keep you full, keep you hydrated, and give you energy too!

I’m pretty sure we can all use more energy around Christmas time, so drink up on that water!

How many glasses of water are you going to drink today?

12 Days of Christmas Fitness - Day 7

SEVEN hours of sleep a night.

I don’t think I have to tell you just how important a good night’s sleep is. Sometimes it just isn’t possible to get your full seven hours, but at least make it a point to carve out that time and attempt to get a good night’s rest every night.

Turn off your phones, computers and other screens and hour before bed time and get your body prepared rest! Take a bath with lavender essential oil diluted in the warm water, or drink a cup of chamomile tea to calm you down from the day.

Create a warm, cozy space for you to sink into at the end of the night and sleep away the stress of the day! Not only will a good night’s sleep help you feel better, but it aids in weight loss, your energy throughout the day, and keeps your body working at it’s full potential!

How much sleep do you normally get per night?

12 Days of Christmas Fitness - Day 6

SIX small meals a day.

Spread your eating out throughout the day! Like I suggested earlier on day three, bring three small snacks with you on the go so you have healthy options. Along with that, plan out your other three meals for the day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) so that you can make healthy choices!

If you are going to a Christmas party, eat some veggies and protein before you go so you don’t arrive starving. Drink a full glass of water with each meal to keep your body hydrated and your metabolism revving throughout the day!

Spreading out your meals will help you maintain your energy and help you keep your body balanced, especially as you go throughout your busy shopping, work and errands that you have to get done!

Which meal is your favorite meal of the day?

12 Days of Christmas Fitness - Day 5

(Zoodles...AKA zucchini noodles are a fantastic way to get a veggie serving in!)

FIVE servings of fruit and veggies every day.

Just because you are enjoying some yummy holiday foods and maybe even some cheat meals doesn’t mean you can’t stay on track with getting the nutrients in your body that you need!

I challenge you to focus on getting at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day this month! Aim for at least 3 servings of veggies, and 2 servings of fruit. Getting the dense nutrition from fruits and vegetables will keep you full, give you energy and make sure that you are staying on track with your health during the holidays!

Looking for some easy ways to get a lot of your servings of fruit and veggies in at once? Make a smoothie! Throw a cup of spinach or kale in your smoothie with your choice of fruit, add some water, ice, and you could even add some Greek yogurt in! Blend it up, and enjoy some super nutrition that your body craves, especially this time of year!

What’s your favorite fruit and vegetable?

12 Days of Christmas Fitness - Day 4

FOUR little healthy treats to share.  

Christmas parties are laden with sugar filled fun. That can be tasty, but also dangerous if you over indulge. If you know that you won’t be able to stop yourself at the buffet table when it comes to dessert, prepare yourself! Go in with a plan.

You can also help that by bringing your own healthy sweet treat to share with everyone else! Here are a few of my favorite that you can try yourself!

1.     Chocolate Protein Balls

1 cup of chocolate Shakeology, 1 cup of rolled oats, 1 cup peanut or almond butter, and 1/2 cup honey. Mix it all together, roll into ping pong ball size and put in the fridge! 

2.     Banana Oat Muffins

3.   Banana Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

4.     Grasshopper Chocolate Bars (Mint Chocolate Bars)

With these treats you can indulge in your own sweet tooth without worrying about completely undoing your health. And, if you know you can handle it, pick one regular treat to allow yourself to indulge in at the party! Avoid hanging around the dessert table, but grab your goodie and go mingle and enjoy your treat!

What’s your favorite healthy sweet treat?