How to Stay Healthy Through the Holidays: Health, Food, & Fitness Tips

The Holiday season can be a stressful time for everyone. There’s good-but-exhausting things like parties, and so not-so-great things like maxing out your credit card on gifts. If you live in a cold climate like New England, seasonal depression can also start taking it’s toll. In this season of giving to others it can be so easy to neglect your own needs and even your health. Here are some tips for how to stay health through the Holidays and getting you through to January with your body and mind taken care of…

Food

Healthy options

You can call me weird (wouldn’t be the first time, won’t be the last), but I get a little thrill out of taking an indulgent recipe and making it healthier but still delicious. It’s all about experimenting with great substitutions. Are you all about toast slathered in butter on Christmas morning? Try whole grain toast with some coconut oil. It’s just as yummy, and will keep you fuller longer so you won’t be tempted to grab extra rolls at dinner.

Pick your pleasure

Holiday time is not the time to deprive yourself, but it’s important not to gorge of everything in sight. Do you live for a slice of pumpkin pie but care less about stuffing? Then skip the stuffing (or just have a little) and treat yourself to a big slice o’ pie. Save your calories for the things that matter to you.

Make it homemade

I know it can be tempting to cut corners and go store-bought, but the more of your holiday meals you make yourself the better. You can control the ingredients, and make sure you’re not filling up on artificial chemicals that are going to make you even hungrier, or worse, make you sick. Plus, I feel much less guilty about eating Christmas cookies when I know I’ve burned a ton of calories baking them myself.

Be a food snob

Sometimes it’s not the food itself that’s the issue, it’s the chemicals and artificial sweeteners. My rule is that if I’m going to indulge, I make it the best quality indulgence. Don’t waste calories on cheap pre-dinner crackers… save them for a post-dinner macaron from a special bakery.

Fitness

Make time to exercise

Between the weather and the craziness it can be so easy to forget about fitness. But it’s so important for your body and mind to fit it in. Too cold outside? Go to the gym, or do a workout DVD. No time? I’ve been loving the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. It’s only 20 min, it’s an effective, full-body workout…and I promise you’ll enjoy it even if you don’t think you’re a Jillian Michaels fan (I wasn’t).

Get in touch with your inner yogi

There is nothing like a yoga session to calm your mind and keep you sane. If you’ve tried yoga but thought it was too intense, too serious, or just too expensive, I highly recommend Yoga with Adriene. Her workouts are free on YouTube, and you can pick one that fits your time limit and/or mood. I’m definitely going to be trying her Yoga for Digestion on Thanksgiving.

Calm your mind

Along the same lines of yoga, meditation is so important. Some times we just need some peace. I really love the calm app because you can pick the length of time that you want to meditate. I usually do 5-10 mins, but when I travel and I have trouble getting to sleep I’ve done the 30 min mediation and had some of the best nights sleep ever!

Mental Health

We can’t neglect our mental health as well. I made a video all about my struggles with anxiety and depression and some tips I have for dealing with it. I hope this video encourages others to talk about their struggles and to feel a little less alone….

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This post/video is not sponsored. All opinions are my own. All products mentions were purchased by me unless noted with an asterisk (*). This post may contain affiliate links, that means that if you purchase any of these products, I receive compensation, through no extra charge to you. That income will go towards making ES even better.

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66 Comments on How to Stay Healthy Through the Holidays: Health, Food, & Fitness Tips

Susie Caron
November 16, 2015 at 9:16 am (8 years ago)

Great reminders with simple tips that anyone can use. It’s so important to take good care of ourselves, especially during high stress times. Thank you for the article and the links to helpful workouts.
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 17, 2015 at 9:58 am (8 years ago)
  
  Thanks so much for checking out my blog!! 🙂
Biana Perez
November 16, 2015 at 9:54 am (8 years ago)

Really great tips – I love the one about making it at home…you can indulge more because you know exactly whats in it! ox, Biana –BlovedBoston
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 17, 2015 at 9:58 am (8 years ago)
  
  Exactly!! ;0
Preeti
November 16, 2015 at 10:26 am (8 years ago)

GREAT tips! i need to indulge in what i love and skip the rest. also exercise!!

xoxo, Preeti
http://www.ninesto5.com
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 17, 2015 at 9:59 am (8 years ago)
  
  Thanks!! 🙂
Jillian
November 16, 2015 at 11:05 am (8 years ago)

Such amazing tips! I’ll be sure to follow some of these!
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 17, 2015 at 9:59 am (8 years ago)
  
  Thanks!!!
MarvelousintheMidwst
November 16, 2015 at 11:16 am (8 years ago)

Very helpful, great tips!
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 17, 2015 at 9:59 am (8 years ago)
  
  Thanks!! 🙂
Samantha Tetrault
November 16, 2015 at 2:16 pm (8 years ago)

I love what you said about quality indulgences! Very true!
Samantha Tetrault
November 16, 2015 at 2:16 pm (8 years ago)

I love what you said about quality indulgences! Very true!
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 17, 2015 at 9:59 am (8 years ago)
  
  Thanks so much!!
Briana Anderson
November 16, 2015 at 3:05 pm (8 years ago)

This is a fabulous post!! Love all of these tips!
xx, Bri || http://www.Neutral2Neon.com
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 17, 2015 at 9:59 am (8 years ago)
  
  Thanks so much!!! 🙂
Darcy
November 16, 2015 at 3:34 pm (8 years ago)

These are great tips! I totally think it is okay to be a food snob!!
http://www.amemoryofus.com
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 17, 2015 at 9:59 am (8 years ago)
  
  Definitely!!! 🙂
Sabrina Nooruddin
November 16, 2015 at 3:45 pm (8 years ago)

I love Jillian Michaels! I’ve never quite made it through the 30DS, but I plan on it!

x. Sabrina | Simply Sabrina
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 17, 2015 at 10:00 am (8 years ago)
  
  It was tough to get through, but it’s a great go-to workout 🙂
Courtney Inkpen
November 16, 2015 at 3:54 pm (8 years ago)

Great tips for the holidays! Love the picking your pleasure tip! Though for me I love all Thanksgiving/Christmas dinners…hard to pick and choose, though I must try!
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 17, 2015 at 10:00 am (8 years ago)
  
  It can be so hard to choose a favorite treat 🙂
Taylor McLemore
November 16, 2015 at 5:42 pm (8 years ago)

Such great tips! I will say that it’s totally hard for me not to overindulge!

xo,
Taylor | http://www.styleiseverythingblog.com
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 17, 2015 at 10:00 am (8 years ago)
  
  Me too 🙂
Adaleta Avdic
November 16, 2015 at 6:33 pm (8 years ago)

Loving all of your tips here because I feel the same way about indulging. I would rather not waste the calories on a silly cracker, but I’ll wait for the delicious macaroons or the slice of pumpkin pie. It’s all about moderation. I saw a few typos while reading through everything in your post, and I would recommend having another look and fixing some of those up (clam your mind, lengtht, etc.) Overall, I really do enjoy this post and I hope more people see it because it’s got a lot of great tips that we need to follow over the next few weeks! xx, adaatude.com
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 17, 2015 at 10:01 am (8 years ago)
  
  Thanks
Sybil
November 16, 2015 at 9:32 pm (8 years ago)

great!!! i’d totally love to get into yoga! 😀

Have a great week!

Animated Confessions
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 17, 2015 at 10:01 am (8 years ago)
  
  I’ve fallen in love with it! 🙂
Shauna C
November 16, 2015 at 10:31 pm (8 years ago)

I’ve already failed by a long shot!! I am SO bad about my eating habits right now, so thank you for the helpful hints!

Shauna

http://www.lipglossandlace.net
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 17, 2015 at 10:01 am (8 years ago)
  
  Haha, this time of year is really a struggle 🙂
Olivia Muller
November 17, 2015 at 1:35 am (8 years ago)

Fitness is always something I struggle at during the holidays!! Love your tips!

-Olivia

Miss Olivia Says
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 17, 2015 at 10:02 am (8 years ago)
  
  Thanks so much!!!
Mary K
November 17, 2015 at 11:13 am (8 years ago)

So many good things to remember! I struggle to make time to workout especially in the winter when its cold and dark!

Sportsanista
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 20, 2015 at 11:22 am (8 years ago)
  
  The darkness can make it so easy to loose motivation! But health is always worth the struggle 🙂
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 20, 2015 at 11:22 am (8 years ago)
  
  The darkness can make it so easy to loose motivation! But health is always worth the struggle 🙂
Elle Spann
November 17, 2015 at 12:07 pm (8 years ago)

totally agree about making things healthy yet still yummy! I love using truvia. For 99% of the things I make it works like a charm and is half the calories; )

elle

Southern Elle Style
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 20, 2015 at 11:22 am (8 years ago)
  
  Great tip!!
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 20, 2015 at 11:22 am (8 years ago)
  
  Great tip!!
Charlene
November 17, 2015 at 6:12 pm (8 years ago)

Thanks for the tips! I agree with you about making things yourself and trying to make them a little healthier.
Charlene xo

The Frugal Fashionista
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 20, 2015 at 11:22 am (8 years ago)
  
  Thanks so much!!
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 20, 2015 at 11:22 am (8 years ago)
  
  Thanks so much!!
Nancy Laws
November 17, 2015 at 6:25 pm (8 years ago)

So glad you added anxiety in there, I have dealt with it too and loved your honesty..holiday stress is a great way to start down a stressful and anxious path
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 20, 2015 at 11:23 am (8 years ago)
  
  This is the toughest time of yet for those of us with anxiety!
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 20, 2015 at 11:23 am (8 years ago)
  
  This is the toughest time of yet for those of us with anxiety!
Brooke Webb
November 18, 2015 at 8:07 am (8 years ago)

Such great tips! I like the idea of at home video during this time of year…it is such a time saver to not have to plan to get out to a gym, etc. And I want some of those macarons, YUM! Thanks for sharing.

xo,

Brooke | KBStyled
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 20, 2015 at 11:25 am (8 years ago)
  
  It really is a time saver, and you can even workout in bad weather!
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 20, 2015 at 11:25 am (8 years ago)
  
  It really is a time saver, and you can even workout in bad weather!
Erica White
November 18, 2015 at 12:15 pm (8 years ago)

This is such a great post with awesome tips! I deal with anxiety too, so thank you for adding that in your blog and video!
leavingericafootprints.blogspot.com
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 20, 2015 at 11:25 am (8 years ago)
  
  Thanks so much… so many of us suffer with anxiety. It’s so important to share out stories so we don’t feel so alone!
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 20, 2015 at 11:25 am (8 years ago)
  
  Thanks so much… so many of us suffer with anxiety. It’s so important to share out stories so we don’t feel so alone!
Amanda K
November 18, 2015 at 12:45 pm (8 years ago)

These are great tips! The holiday sweets get me every time!
xx,
Amanda || http://www.fortheloveofglitter.com
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 20, 2015 at 11:26 am (8 years ago)
  
  They get me too!!
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 20, 2015 at 11:26 am (8 years ago)
  
  They get me too!!
Christina Beauchamp
November 19, 2015 at 11:29 am (8 years ago)

These are FABULOUS tips! I’ve literally been doing Jillian Miachel’s 30 Day Shreds for YEARS and I still love it! So quick yet effective. And I definitely need to try that calm app!!

xo, Christina

Fashion And Frills
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 20, 2015 at 11:26 am (8 years ago)
  
  You’ll love it! It makes mediation so easy!
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 20, 2015 at 11:26 am (8 years ago)
  
  You’ll love it! It makes mediation so easy!
Elena Michelle
November 19, 2015 at 10:52 pm (8 years ago)

all really great advice!! I’m totally guilty of over-indulging on the pre-dinner snacks. i always regret it once the pie rolls around!!

xoxo, Elena Michelle
http://www.anewyorkloveaffair.com
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 20, 2015 at 11:27 am (8 years ago)
  
  It’s so important to save room for pie 🙂
- Sarah Blodgett
  November 20, 2015 at 11:27 am (8 years ago)
  
  It’s so important to save room for pie 🙂
Amanda Miller
December 15, 2015 at 10:21 am (7 years ago)

This is pure gold! Such a great post because I know soo many people struggle with this! I love that journal too, a great way to keep yourself motivated!

xoxo Amanda

The Miller Affect
- Sarah Blodgett
  December 16, 2015 at 10:51 am (7 years ago)
  
  Thanks so much!!!
- Sarah Blodgett
  December 16, 2015 at 10:51 am (7 years ago)
  
  Thanks so much!!!