Avoiding the Holiday Pounds

Don't depend on bulky winter coats to hide your added holiday cheer this season. We all know how difficult it is with the holiday parties and lingering aroma of cinnamon, spice and everything nice, but give yourself the gift of good health and plan ahead by setting goals for your holiday indulgence. Be prepared, set guidelines for yourself, keep track of what you are putting in your mouth, and try to find time to fit in some exercise. There are many ways to watch your waistline without feeling drained of your festive spirit. Gerry Morton, CEO of EnergyFirst, suggests trying the following:

• Choose a "healthy reading" magazine or book to read over the holidays. Filled with fitness exercises and other health topics, these will help motivate you and keep you on the right track when it comes to making healthy choices each day during the holidays.


• Ask for health-conscious gifts such as running shoes, athletic apparel or memberships to a gym. They will inspire you in your pursuit to feel and look your best.


• Start off your day with a healthy fruit shake, supplemented with protein, such as such as EnergyFirst's Whey Vanilla Isolate. 

  Try this quick, but yummy strawberry-mango shake: Blend 5 ice cubes with 1.5 cup of distilled water.  Add in protein powder, ½ cup of strawberries, ½ cup of mangos and blend again.  Protein Shake Recipes

  Indulge yourself in a bit of luxury by pouring it into a martini glass, stick in a cocktail umbrella and pretend you're on a tropical island vacation!


• The holidays are a busy time so it's easy to make excuses to avoid the gym. Take a brief walk in the morning to substitute. Still too busy? Exercise whenever you can. For example, take the stairs instead of the elevator, dance around to your favorite holiday tunes or have a snowball fight! These activities are fun, but it also burns calories and will make you feel healthier!


• Choose one treat! The holidays are a time when desserts are plentiful, from pies to cookies. Try to limit yourself to only one dessert after dinner.


• Running around all day may lead you to forgo getting the recommended five servings of fruit and vegetables everyday. If you need help getting the proper amount on a daily basis, you might try supplements such as EnergyFirst's Greenergy to give you the recommended daily nutritional value of green vegetables in one small scoop.


• Snacking while cooking is a huge temptation. Before you know it, you'll have eaten a whole meal! Try chewing gum instead. Your mouth will be full, there's flavor in your mouth and most importantly, it will prevent you from overeating.


• Avoid the alcohol, especially eggnog which can contain over 300 calories! If you really don't want to give up the traditional eggnog, try making a low-fat version, which can taste just as good. Limit yourself to one glass of wine, but drink water for the rest of the night.


• Remember that holidays are just days, not weeks. Go in with good intentions, but do enjoy some of those special holiday treats! Remember to do everything in moderation and afterwards, get back on a healthy eating plan.

If you can work some of these suggestions into your holiday cheer, you will have more to celebrate this New Year! For more information on healthy eating tips and exercise, please visit www.energyfirst.com .

Gerry Morton, CEO of EnergyFirst, holds an MS in Nutrition and is an experienced athlete who has competed in 30+ marathons and 4 Ironman triathlons. Gerry is an excellent source of information on nutrition, supplementation and exercise. Since 1997, he has been educating and motivating others on how to attain peak performance. For more information, please visit www.energyfirst.com or email Gerry here.