Ways to Watch the Waistline this Holiday Season without Going Outside

Many people find it difficult to maintain their diets or keep from putting on a few pounds during the holidays. This is due not only to the temptation that constantly surrounds you in the forms of food and drink, but the lack of exercise one typically gets as a result of the holidays being the busiest times of the year. Even if you don’t have the time to exercise, however, there are ways to keep yourself looking trim and fit without ever going outside.

One of the best ways to keep in shape is to play with your kids! If you’re a parent and have one or more young children in the house, a mere thirty minutes of goofing off and playing with them can provide substantial benefits to your overall health. You may not break a huge sweat, but your heart will get pumping and remain that way for a short period afterward. This is especially helpful if you go back to cooking the holiday dinner.

When cooking, you might be tempted to snack. Trying all the foods you’re making to ensure they’re cooked properly can add up, especially given the overall unhealthy attributes of conventional thanksgiving foods. They may be tasty, but those candied yams, mashed potatoes and greasy turkey pack quite a caloric punch. Your best bet to prevent this, aside from playing with the kids beforehand, is to chew on a piece of gum or, alternatively, have a filling breakfast packed with protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats. This will keep you full until the Thanksgiving feast is complete, and if you ate enough, prevent you from overeating when the meal is finally served.

Other ways to watch the waistline boil down to what you prepare for the Thanksgiving meal. Since many of the standard items are loaded with butter, salt and other unhealthy ingredients, you can substitute items such as sour cream, real butter and salt with alternatives. Many cookbooks will provide alternatives, as will the boxes of packaged food. For example, some items that call for several tablespoons of butter can taste just as good by using olive oil instead. This is a much healthier alternative, as olive oil in moderate amounts can provide plenty of benefits for the heart.

This is just a small sample of some of the way to remain fit and looking good during the holidays. At times you may be tempted to splurge and eat half a pie, but that’s ok. Just don’t do it again. Experiment with ways to cut back on calories and to get the most out of what little exercise you can squeeze into your stressful holiday season.