Family functions, visiting relatives, and holiday parties seem to take us away from exercise and conscientious food choices, as we focus our attention on enjoying life, eating, drinking and good company.

Follow these simple holiday tips and tricks to maintain:

Exercise.  It can be hard to maintain your exercise schedule during the busy holiday season. Take time each day to exercise; if you have to rearrange your exercise time to fit it into the holiday frenzy, do so. Take a brisk walk, do a few sit ups or lift some hand weights. It all helps.

Portion Sizes.  Find yourself overindulging during the holidays? Me, too. It is okay for you to eat some of your favorite holiday foods, so no need to feel guilty about it! The trick is to not eat too much. Just make a good choice about the portion size. My rule of thumb, I never eat more than a small fist full of dad’s yams. That’s my indulgence. Mmmmm.

Sleep.  Celebrating the holidays normally leads to less sleep. Is it worth being sleep deprived during the holidays? No. Sleep deprivation can cause impaired alertness, blurred vision, slurred speech, muscle weakness, headaches, and weight gain. Make sure to stay well rested. 
 
Snacks.  Oh, the yummy snacks around the holidays. A healthy snack portion of fruits, vegetables, or nuts is always a good choice. But as an alternative, try a half scoop of RightSize Smoothie mix with 4-5 oz. of skim milk. I do this all the time and not only does it taste great, but it keeps me feeling full until my next meal. My favorite snack is Leano Cappuccino!

Drinks.  Eggnog, fruit punch, or mixed drinks all contain calories that can be easily eliminated during the holiday. Instead of having one 10-12 oz glass of eggnog, only have one 4 oz serving of the reduced fat version. Remember drinking water really is the best option, but if you just got to have some of that holiday treat (like me) make a smart choice.

Happy Holidays!