Is Christmas A Challenge for you?

Around this time of year I am thinking about what chrissie presents I can buy my loved ones and also what gorgeous delicious food will be on the menu for Christmas day.  The great thing about living in Australia is that Christmas Day is normally a sweltering 30+degrees... so it makes it so much easier to make healthier food & drink choices.  I think for most Christmas Day isn't really a bad day of eating it is all the celebrations leading up to the big day that pack on those unwanted pounds.

We are all about the work Christmas parties, the lunches, the friends catching up and then of course Christmas Day.  We feel that we have worked hard all year and deserve a break (you do, we all do) but the amount of people that put on weight over Christmas is outstanding, why do we gorge ourselves and spend the first few days of the New Year talking about being healthier this year, being fitter this year (and so on...) Here is a thought, commence now if you haven't done already.  Don't be a sheep and get hammered at every party and eat all the crap food because that is what everyone else does, have smart options/choices and work out which events you will let yourself have a treat or two!! Be in control. Be smart, plan and you will thank yourself for it come 1 January 2013.

You have 35days starting from now to get those healthy habits fine tuned - for those who have already started, keep going and tighten those reins.. haha get it, ahh yes. Humour.  I try.  Sometimes I laugh at my own jokes, it is just sad. 

35 days - they say it takes 4 -6 weeks to start a new habit (eating clean healthy foods and moving your body a couple times a week), you will start to notice  changes/ a difference around that time and others will start to notice in 12 weeks.  So why wait until January/February to start?  You can still enjoy Christmas, the great turkey, ham, pavlova (my fav), champers, just PLAN PLAN PLAN.   Here are my tips to still enjoy the festive season but also keep your body healthy, fit and lean:-

* natural mineral water with fresh berries, lime (make frozen lime/natural fruit mixes as ice) I drink mine out of a wine glass, it helps trust me!
* limit alcohol intake, if you feel like a drink, add vodka to mineral water mix 
* be the nominated driver, then you don't have to drink and are in control
*T2 have some great teas that can be drank cold (no sugar) taste divine
*drink lots of water... not energy drinks
* enjoy lots of fresh summer fruits with yoghurts, prepare green salads and meats to eat daily, healthy snacks (fruit, nuts, yoghurt) make healthy protein balls as a semi naughty snack
*move your body everyday (swimming, walking, class, run, ride, dancing)
* Eat before going to buffet dinners, don't starve yourself
* choose from fresh green salads, lots of protein from meats, turkey, chicken, ham
* don't stand near the snacks table (handful of peanuts here, crisps here)
* get some little mints to keep in your bag, when you feel like you are going to raid that snack table or feel the urge for the 4th glass of wine, pop in a mint.
* Visualise how you want to feel in the New Year, lean and fit and healthy or fat, sluggish and tired? Put pictures up to inspire you, you can do it.
* Offer to bring foods along to events so you can control what you are eating
* Book yourself some pampering to celebrate your healthy regime (massages, pedicures)
*Have you wanted to try a new class, book that in! yoga, dancing etc
* Plan lots of activities outside! Bike rides, runs, walks with friends on tracks you have been wanting to explore, make it social with a nice swim or picnic at the end
* Laugh, enjoy catching up with friends, surround yourself with people who will support your decisions not sabotage you to make them feel better, do this for you! It won't be easy but you will so thank yourself for it.

So let's for some GO, for others step up the journey, NO excuses.  Let's get meaner, leaner and kick some bodyfat in the process.