Your Holiday Guide to healthy eating.

What will you do to stay healthy this holiday season?

It is the season of Christmas parties whether at work or at home and of course ringing in the new years. All of these events are usually accompanied with great food, great friends, family and alcohol. If the thought of all the drinking and eating of the holiday season stresses you out, don't let it. Hopefully by now we have all started a healthy routine that will carry us not just through the holidays but through the rest of the year as well. If you have not started a healthy regiment there is no time like the present. Healthy lifestyle practices should not be abandoned or forgotten because we get caught up in the spirit of the holiday season. In fact it should be revisited and renewed. Look at what you are doing or not doing now and set some realistic goals in place for the coming year.

For the most part we know what to do to improve our health: eat more fruits and vegetables, eat less processed products, drink plenty of water, and limit sugary drinks and sodas and exercise. With countless number of treats and our hectic holiday schedule, this can become challenging during the holiday season.

Do not despair. Follow these simple tips to continue eating healthy, get some physical activity in and reduce extra stress.

1. Do not show up to any event hungry, if you are attending a holiday party it is wise to eat a small well balance meal prior to arrival. Hunger leads to over-indulging.

2. Drink wine and other alcoholic beverages in small amounts. We all know alcohol is loaded with calories so limit your intake.

3. Replace traditional ingredients like white sugar with more natural ingredients like raw cane sugar (brown sugar), honey, maple or brown rice syrup or use apple sauce, bananas, and even 100% natural juices to add flavor to treats without the sugar.

4. Nix the margarine, and the butter use natural oils such as olive, sunflower, canola or another vegetable variety in moderation.

5. Try new and healthier recipes for your main courses and treats. Visit websites like: www.bhg.com/recipes/ , www.foodandwine.com/cooking_guides/healthy or www.foodnetwork.com/healthy-eating.

6. Take advantage of winter activities such as ice skating, sledding, building a snowman with children or other family members or taking a walk in the brisk air.

7. Indulgence in small amounts is fine. Savor every meal and every treat in moderation.

8. Remember what the holiday is all about, sharing with family and friends don’t let the stress of hectic schedules, and counting calories make you lose sight of all the things you have to celebrate and be thankful for.

9. Plan ahead. Planning will help avoid unnecessary stress, which can lead to overeating and indulging in unhealthy foods.

10. Hydrate every day with water, dehydration can cause headaches, and tiredness. Drinking up to 8 glasses will keep you energized and focus on all your holiday activities.

Whole Body Nutrition wishes everyone a happy, healthy and safe holiday season!

Are you Ready?

The struggle to lose weight is often won by some and lost by many.
Sometimes we set out with unrealistic expectations and give up fast when we do not see the results we are expecting. Weight loss is a struggle no matter how much weight an individual is trying to lose. Whether its 5 pounds or 30 pounds we all struggle with making the necessary changes that will impact our weight and health for the long run.

Are you ready?

Well, are you? Readiness is a major factor in starting weight loss and maintaining it. We all want to lose weight but not many of us are mentally prepared for the challenges we experience during the weight loss process. It is very easy to follow someone else's plan but can you create a plan of your own that works for you. Many of us do not have the time, and most of us are not willing to invest the time needed to learn to eat and live healthy lives. Being ready requires that you have some understanding of foods, weight and healthy lifestyle practices. This knowledge can be gained from conversing with others, reading materials on diet and exercise, speaking with healthcare practitioners like your physician, a nurse or a staff nutritionist.

Are you ready?

Are you ready to change habits? Habits form and stay with us for most of our lives. The saying that old habits die hard is very true. Being successful at losing weight and keeping the weight off require overcoming unhealthy habits and forming healthier ones. Relieving your self of bad habits could be very challenging. Most of the time habits are formed out of routine. It is routine to stop at Dunkin Donuts on your way to the office. It is routine to go to the gym work out for an hour and then grab a hot caramel macchiato from Starbucks on your way home. Part of breaking unhealthy habits is changing up your routine. Identify the things you do out of routine that is not beneficial to your health and find ways to change them.

Get Ready!

Be mentally prepared before you start any diet program. Whether it is one you created or one someone has created for you. If you are not ready within your mind, body and soul success will be short lived. Prep yourself at least a month in advance. Start a journal. Write down your expectations, your goals, time frame and even your doubts. Begin a conversation with yourself about why you want to lose weight and what you are willing to change to have this happen. Be honest with yourself about the process of weight loss. A successful weight loss program takes time and it educates you in the process. That education is important in the long run, it is this new knowledge that will help you keep the weight off for years to come.