The holiday season is a time for celebration and indulgence – and all those family dinners and decadent, homemade desserts can derail even the most disciplined among us.
There can often be feelings of guilt associated with the holidays, but that shouldn't be the case! Treating yourself to the occasional treat won’t derail a whole year of hard work.
That said, there is a fine line between enjoying some well-earned rest and sweet treats and overindulgence. To help you avoid the latter, we’ve compiled some tips from the Naked team on how to stay healthy and avoid those extra pounds that tend to accumulate this time of year.
1. Skip dessert at night and eat it for breakfast instead.
Who doesn’t like a slice of pie at 9 AM? It feels like a special treat in the morning – Plus, by not eating both dessert at night AND a normal breakfast in the morning, you’re saving calories while still giving yourself a special treat. – Lauren, Head of Product & Marketing
2. Instead of meeting old friends for a drink, go to yoga and get coffee instead.
It’s really easy and tempting to default to meeting friends for dessert or drinks. By combining social plans with exercise, you can kill two birds with one stone, all while avoiding the alcohol calories...and the headache the next day. – Alli, Marketing Manager
3. Find fun ways to get moving every day.
Try to do something physical every day, but shake it up from the usual routine. Maybe try skiing, ice skating, a tough hike, or a game of football. That way, you can have a little fun – AND burn off a couple of those Christmas cookies. – Sam, Research Scientist
4. Drink a green smoothie for breakfast.
Throw some spinach, kale, and blueberries into the Vitamix! Green smoothies are dense, filling, and pack a nutritious punch. It always helps me to balance the unhealthy with the healthy. – Steve, Product Design Engineer
5. Stay out of the kitchen!
Avoiding the kitchen at non-meal times helps kick the urge to graze. Instead, spend the time when you’d be wandering in and out of the kitchen laughing, smiling, and having fun with family and friends. – Dave, Document Control Specialist
6. Chew slower and really savor the flavor.
By chewing slower, you’ll enjoy your food more AND eat less. It takes about 20 minutes for the stomach to communicate satiety to the brain, so the slower you eat, the less likely you are to end up with that sick, full feeling. – Thomas, Customer Experience Specialist
7. Schedule tough workouts (like early morning runs) with friends.
Scheduling workouts ahead of time will make you accountable to show up and get it done. If you schedule them with friends (and fit them in during the morning, when your energy and willpower are high), they’ll be enjoyable instead of feeling like a chore. – Stanton, Program Manager
8. After a meal, go for a walk.
An after-meal walk will help with digestion, burn calories, and reduce the chances of grazing on leftovers. Bring your furry friend along with you – he’s probably getting more table scraps than usual and will thank you for the extra exercise! – Luke, UX Designer
9. Drink a ton of water.
Drinking a lot of water throughout the day will help to curb your appetite. Added bonus: It’s easy to get dehydrated this time of year with the heat on high, so some extra H20 is always a good idea. – Farhad, CEO & Co-Founder
10. Be kind to yourself over the holidays.
If you overindulge one day, it’s not the end of the world. Enjoy the holidays and treat yourself! Just be careful to not make it a habit. – Jaime, Visual Designer
