Motivation Monday: Holiday Slim

The holiday season is definitely one of my favorite times of the year - office parties, the white elephant exchange, Christmas songs, gifting and of course the yummy food. But each year I add a little extra to my mid-section. So, I thought I would research effective ways to stay slim during the holidays. Here are a few tricks! 

Eat This, Not That
'Tis the season for fun drinks, fattening appetizers, cookies, desserts and over-indulgent meals. Instead of depriving yourself, be strategic. For example, instead of a high caloric drink like gin and tonic (approximately 240 calories) try a glass of champagne (100 calories). Or avoid the spinach and artichoke dip (about 300 calories), supplementing with salsa (10 calories for 1/4 cup). Or swamp out pumpkin/pecan/apple pie (up to 810 calories) for chocolate fondue with fruit (300 calories). These simple decisions will help eliminate that holiday bulge.
 
Make Time for the Gym
Long family visits can put a strain on your gym routine. But during the holidays we’re so overwhelmed, getting a quick run in is imperative to our physical and mental health. Schedule your workouts each week - ensuring you make breaking a sweat a priority. 

Try A Cocktail Without The Booze
With a calendar full of holiday parties, alcohol can become a major source of calories — even more detrimental to your waistline than dessert. Alcohol is a carbohydrate, and some cocktails pack as many as 700 calories. To counter this, try drinking a water in between alcoholic drinks.