We talk about it a lot on the consummate athlete podcast (check it out and subscribe!), but wanted to drop in here to wish everyone a healthy, safe holiday, and to remind you that no matter how your healthy habits fare this holiday season, it’s only one week (or even a couple days) out of your year. Don’t let a couple over-indulgence moments derail you from shifting back to healthy habits, just enjoy the moments and skip the guilt.
5 ways to take a break but still be healthy:
- Getting enough sleep. We cannot stress this enough, and spent a lot of time talking about it on the podcast this week. This could look like your usual 7 to 9 hours, or maybe even adding a mid-day nap.
- Moving! This doesn’t have to be the Festive 500. You can go for walks, chill rides with family, or—our top recommendation—drag the family into a consummate athlete style christmas where you pull out the soccer ball, engage in an epic snowball fight, play some pond hockey, have a hardcore dance marathon, or engage in a violent table tennis match. Mix it up!
- Keep some bookends if possible. For me, this is a healthy morning with my 10 minutes of yoga/core, and chugging a big glass of water before getting into the coffee. (I also use a magnesium powder at night, which guarantees that I also chug a huge glass of water before I go to bed.) Keeping some of your little healthy habits going, especially if you’re worried you might not get back on board with them if you do forget about them for a week, is a good idea!
- Approach holiday buffets with balance. Absolutely enjoy that pie and stuffing and other delightful stuff that goes with holiday dinner, especially those once-a-year traditions (my mom’s apple cake is a big one for me!). But try to also ensure that you add some bright colored veggies and leafy greens to your plates whenever possible. The same applies to drinking: We’re not suggesting you abstain entirely (unless you’re into that). We just recommend making sure you’re drinking plenty of water as well.
- Enjoy these days! We said it before and we’ll say it again: If you feel guilty every time you eat a bite of pie, that’s not a fun way to spend the holidays. It’s not fulfilling. Just enjoy the damn pie for what it is. We will be!
Again, have a wonderful, very happy holiday!!
-Molly and Peter
Want more content like this? Check out our book, Becoming A Consummate Athlete,
