Making Healthy Decisions this Holiday Season

The weather has been beautiful this week!  With the early arrival of snow in Washington and Thanksgiving celebrations in full swing, eating healthy is becoming more and more difficult.  It doesn’t help that our favourite fruits and vegetables are out of season.  And who couldn’t pass up the buy one get one free holiday drinks at Starbucks this week?  I sure couldn’t, and of course I didn’t just get a tall, it was free – bring on the venti!  The question though is how we can get ourselves and our family through this wonderful season staying healthy and without putting on weight?  Here are some recommendations:

1.    Put some thought into your recipes.  Choose the freshest ingredients and add in fruits and vegetables where appropriate.  Use canola and olive oils in your cooking and bake with butter instead of margarine.

2.    Eat fruit, vegetable, and lower fat options first.  Begin with the foods that are healthier choices, then when you get to the more calorie-rich foods you won’t be as hungry and won’t be likely to eat as much of it.  This way, you will still be able to enjoy all of your favourite foods. 

3.    Choose our portion sizes carefully.  It is okay to eat a piece of pie or a serving of stuffing, just do so in moderation.  Enjoying a piece of pie doesn’t mean that you need to take a slice the size of your hand, you will feel better if you eat until you are full and not until your plate is clean and you have sampled every dish on the table.  Choose your favourite dishes and leave out those that aren’t as important to you. 

4.    Try not to nibble throughout the day.  All of us “nibble” when we’re cooking but nibbling is not a good idea because it can fill us up quickly without us even fully noticing.  Then by the time dinner comes, we will be full but still feel the need to eat a full dinner.  You all know what happens next ...

5.    Set aside time to exercise.  Try to take a walk before or after a big meal, this will get your metabolism going.  Regular exercise will limit your desire for unhealthy foods and your body will burn the food that you do eat more efficiently. 

6.    Moderate drinking.  Alcohol slows down our metabolisms and reduces our judgment; neither is good when we’re trying not to put on pounds.  Enjoy your glass of wine but be careful not to overdo it. 

7.    Don’t draw attention to your decision to eat healthy.  It will suit you best to not share your decision to eat healthy this year and you certainly won’t want to offend your grandmother by making a scene about not sampling her bread pudding.  By keeping your decision to yourself, everyone (including yourself) will feel more at ease and will have a better time.  There is no need to risk making others, who haven’t made the same decision feel uncomfortable or guilty.

8.    Eat plenty of good, fresh foods throughout the holiday season to make up for the food you will most likely eat on special occasions and at parties. 

9.    And finally, don’t give up!  It is very easy for all of us to fall back into old habits, especially when surrounded by family and friends, the “holiday spirit,” and really good-smelling food!  If you slip up don’t tell yourself “oh well” and just go for it, it is much easier to lose one or two pounds than ten!

Above all, remember the meaning of the holidays.  Enjoy your family and be thankful for all of the wonderful blessings that you all have.  Focus on the important things and don’t worry so much about the rest. 

Mommy "Me" Time

As moms, it is completely natural for us to put ourselves at the bottom of our priority list, we are so used to thinking of ourselves last that we begin to do it without even thinking.  This can be a very good thing (I'm sure that our kids and husbands appreciate it very much!) but there are also times where not taking the proper steps to meet our own needs can adversely affect ourselves, our families, and those that are close to us.  It's time to put ourselves back on the top of our "priority ladder." 

It is definitely convenient to choose the quick but less-healthy meal options or even to skip a meal all-together in favor of meeting our families needs.  And doesn't it happen all too often that we get to the end of the day and realize that we didn't get around to working out or having any special "me" time?  In the moment, it may feel like having a spotless house or taking the kids to their third trip to the park this week is more important, and those things are important as well, but at what cost?

How much better would we feel if we were physically able to do everything that was required of us as mothers?  I often wish that I had more energy and strength so that I could better care for my daughter.  There are many times where I feel like I could accomplish my job as a mom better if I had the strength and energy to do everything that my family needs from me in a given day (and let's face it - it's a LOT!).  This strength and energy comes only from taking some "mommy 'me' time."  And it is important that we include healthy food choices, an active lifestyle that includes cardio, strength, and flexibility, and opportunities for us to de-stress and re-plenish.  Pregnancy and motherhood take a toll on our bodies, it is important that we take the time to educate ourselves about the changes that are taking place and to do our best to take care of our bodies so that we are equipped to be the mommy that we want to be.

And if that isn't enough to persuade you . . .

Thousands of children in our country are being affected, not only by obesity, but also by disease due to the chemicals that are used in many of our processed foods as well as lack of physical activity.  What an example you would be setting for your children if you, their mother, showed them the importance of setting personal time aside to maintain a healthy lifestyle by working out and by taking a little extra time to prepare "close-to-the-source" foods. 

Stress and depression are at the highest rates ever for both adults and children in our country.  Teach your children the importance of setting aside time for each member of your family to do something that helps each of you relax, de-stress, and experience joy.  This will keep each of you happy, healthy, and motivated to take on the day.

By taking a little time each day to make sure that we are keeping ourselves healthy, we are actually doing our family a great service.  We are setting an example for our children and are making sure that we, ourselves, are equiped for motherhood as best as we could possibly be.

Drumroll Please . . .

The country’s largest and fastest growing fitness program for new moms is coming to Puyallup!!


Get ready, Stroller Strides® will change your life! 

Look for grand opening information coming soon.

In the meantime, follow our blog and connect with us on Facebook (Stroller Strides of Puyallup) and Twitter (FitMomPuyallup).  We look forward to connecting with you and working with you to make STRIDES in fitness, in motherhood, and in life.