Healthy Ways to Bounce Back After the Holidays

A very Happy New Year to all!

After what feels like weeks of parties, dinners, get-togethers and Champagne toasts, we’ve emerged from the warm, cozy holiday season back into the much colder reality of every day life. Between the stages of denial (it seems that fried hors d’oeuvres and sugar cookies do have calories after all!) and the sluggish, lazy feeling I know I’ve had these past few mornings, bouncing back from holiday indulgences is no easy task. Here are a few tips to help make that transition a little easier.

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Put your drinks up! If your drink is a water bottle, that is. Cheers! The holiday season leaves many of us dehydrated after traveling, cocktails, and lots of activity. Start by drinking a full glass of water as soon as you wake up in the morning. Then, try to drink another full glass ever hour or so throughout the day. This will help you feel more refreshed (as well as bring that glow back to your skin!).
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Chow Down… …On a few smaller meals, a few times a day, and slowly. Rather than having three big meals and risking snacking in between, spread out your meals to curb your hunger. Think breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner. This will help minimize mindless eating and keep your metabolism moving.
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​#EEEATS! Keep ‘em lean, raw and green. Raw fruits and vegetables are easier for your body to digest, and foods high in fiber will help cleanse you of any more “toxic” foods (aka, pigs-in-a-blanket and candy canes).
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Hit the dance floor! Or wherever you like to get your cardio in. Jumpstart your journey to shake off any extra pounds that found themselves a new home on your hips by blasting some extra cardio. While it may be the last thing you want to do when you’re feeling a bit bloated, it will help keep your metabolism in motion. Extra tip: do it first thing in the morning and you’ll feel better all day.
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Get some shut-eye. The best way to reset your body is to get back on a normal sleep schedule. Try to get between 7.5 to 8 hours a night, and everything else will fall into place.
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Remember it’s not the end of the world. Most importantly, don’t beat yourself up. Everyone indulges sometimes! While you’re getting back into your routine, stay off the scale – it’s not about numbers, it’s about how you feel in your own body. And if you need help remembering that, reach out to others for support. Ask friends and family to join you in bouncing back from some unhealthy behaviors. Having a running buddy or someone to share healthy recipes with makes it that much easier.

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By Kristen Chuber

Kristen is a 25-year-old New Yorker living on the Lower East Side eager to try out all the heath and wellness opportunities that NYC has to offer. Read about her fitness journey on her blog or follow her on Twitter.