A to Z of Healthy Holiday Habits

By Rebecca Willa Davis

The holidays should be about friends, family, and a healthy portion of pumpkin pie, not guilt over gaining weight. Dr. Grigory Sadkhin, weight loss expert and founder of The Sadkhin Complex, shared with us a few ways to go from Thanksgiving through New Years without gaining a pound (or a guilty conscience).

A - Alcohol

It may be the social lubricant of choice for awkward family or work events, but alcohol is rich in sugar and carbohydrates. Skip sweet cocktails and go for champagne, dry wine, or drinks straight up.

B - Breakfast

Instead of buying a cinnamon roll on the way to work, wait until 11 a.m. to eat a healthier alternative (like an apple). According to Dr. Sadkhin, this is when your body is first able to digest properly.

C - Chew Slowly

When you’ve got a table full of delicious (but rich) foods, ward off overeating and aid digestion by taking smaller bites of food and chewing slowly. Try to chew 25 to 30 times before swallowing.

D - The Day After

So you ate a few too many helpings of stuffing or knocked back more cups of eggnog than you planned — don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world. The next day, try to eat your first meal as late as possible (wait until noon, at the earliest) so that your digestive system has time to recover from your holiday feast.

E - Exercise

While exercise is important year round, during the holiday it’s best to do it in the morning so that you won’t feel hungry at night. If your busy schedule won’t allow for a morning run, opt for a static activity in the evening, like yoga or pilates.

F - Fasting

Avoid overeating by fasting the day of a big event. This will help cleanse your system and curb hunger, but it doesn’t mean go hungry; you can drink as much water, seltzer, and tea as you need, and should eat a small snack before heading out.