A lot of relatives, a lot of food, and a lot of alcohol can be the perfect recipe for fun times and cherished memories. But let’s be honest: Too much family time can be a bad thing. Despite the good eats and time off from work, holidays can take a toll on our emotional and physical well-being for a variety of reasons. Don’t fret, though! We’ve got a list of the best ways to make it through the holidays with your fitness, health, and happiness intact.
Fitness
Problem: You’re traveling and there isn't a gym in sight.
Solution: Time to get into bodyweight exercises, friend. Weightless workouts are a fantastic, gym-free way to improve balance, flexibility, and core strength, and they carry a lower risk of injury than lifting heavy weights. Lightweight, portable workout gear like resistance bands, yoga DVDs, or a jump rope are also smart choices for holiday travelers and will help keep your fitness level from dropping too sharply. Who needs a gym now?
Problem: Between all your holiday commitments, there’s no time to work out.
Solution: Before parties pile up, try getting into the habit of waking up a little earlier to exercise. People who work out in the morning tend to exercise more consistently, and a morning sweat sesh can get the ball rolling for healthier behavior all day long. One study even found that morning exercise results in more movement throughout the day and less interest in tempting food 1 . If carving out an hour-long workout is tough, divide exercise into five- or 10- minute blocks throughout the day. A couple of quick Tabata circuits can make a big difference in practically no time.
Problem: The holiday temptations make it hard to stay motivated.
Solution: Set a goal to be accomplished during the holiday season, and tell your friends about it—that way, there’s no backing out! Find a half-marathon to run in January or promise a buddy that you’ll manage twenty pull-ups in a row by the end of the year. Goals, accountability, and shorter deadlines are all key to achieving any milestone, and they’ll keep your head in the game when surrounded by spiked eggnog and movie marathons.
Problem: Your family members (or friends) aren’t supportive of your fitness goals.
Solution: “Why are you exercising all the time?" You need some meat on your bones!" People who have known you since you were a chubby toddler can sometimes have trouble accepting newer habits. Plus, using treasured family time to go and exercise solo can make them feel snubbed. Instead of going it alone, try inviting family members along for some exercise they can all enjoy, like a brisk walk. It’ll help everyone de-stress and feel more like a part of your life, and it can probably serve as a good warm-up or cool-down for a more intense workout with a cousin or two.
Health
Problem: Every holiday meal is gigantic.
Solution: The average American will consume between 3,000 and 4,500 calories during a traditional holiday dinner, and for a lot of us, it’s hard to resist the temptation of high-cal, high-fat food when it’s all on the table. While the old trick of loading up on greens and lean proteins holds true, the real secret may lie in managing liquids. Many people mistake thirst cues for hunger, so drink a big glass of water about ten minutes before a meal. It might seem like a big sacrifice, but it’s also important to take it easy with the alcohol. It takes longer to feel full when we drink booze with a meal, plus it tends to make salty, fatty food even more addictive 2 . Add in lowered inhibitions, high calorie counts, and the increased likelihood of drunken spats with relatives, and a low-booze dinner is looking better and better.
Problem: The host always trying to ply you with thirds (and you were full after firsts!).
Solution: Any home chef thrills to see loved ones eat their food, but if you’re worried about being force-fed, try initially only filling up half of your plate so that your “seconds” are actually “firsts.” During the holidays or not, it’s a good idea to get in the habit of chewing slowly between bites. This gives the body more time to realize it’s full, helps you to savor the food, and empties the plate more slowly. Pro tip: Put the fork down between bites to help put the brakes on.
Problem: None of the special holiday foods you’re eating are particularly healthy.
Solution: If you want to see more nutritious options on the dinner table, ask to help prepare the meal. Take charge of roasting the vegetables or see if you can put together a low-sugar dessert. Most holiday chefs will welcome any help in the kitchen.
Problem: Sometimes, unhealthy meals are pretty much unavoidable.
Solution: The best way to prep the body for a large meal is to do some intense exercise beforehand, like interval training. High-intensity sweat fests empty the body of glycogen, the energy that’s stored in the muscles. Heading into a big meal with low glycogen will ensure that a lot of those carbs will refill those energy stores instead of heading straight to your waistline.
Problem: Mindless grazing on leftovers and snacks.
Solution: Having access to someone else’s kitchen (and leftover pie) means it’s all too easy to polish off a bowl of chips in one sitting. Rather than chowing down on whatever crosses your path, try to schedule snacks ahead of time or keep a food journal to become more aware of your food intake. Avoid eating in front of a TV or computer screen (you won’t pay full attention to what’s being eaten) and try chewing gum or brushing your teeth to keep mindless nibbling at bay.
Happiness
Problem: Going home can be depressing.
Solution: Family time can often bring up troubled memories, and holiday travel puts us in close quarters with people we might never choose to be around otherwise. Set boundaries and find ways to take a break from all that (unwanted) family bonding: Volunteer as the errand runner, bring a laptop to catch up on work (or pretend to!), and try your best to fit in solo time. Decide how much time you want to spend with your family and plan accordingly—would you be happier if you left a little earlier? Would renting a car give you some more freedom? It’s completely okay to prioritize your sanity and well-being over spending time with the relatives.
Problem: Uncle Bob always pushes your buttons.
Solution: Some family members seem to know all the wrong things to say (and don’t hesitate to say them). The trick is to stick up for yourself without being aggressive or antagonistic. Don’t be afraid to make it clear (in a firm but polite tone) that you’d rather not discuss your ex-significant other, semester grades, or any other uncomfortable topic. Simply saying, “I don’t feel comfortable talking about this,” will let family members know your feelings without starting an argument. If all else fails, take a 10-minute break from the conversation to meditate or take a short walk. (Calling a sympathetic friend works, too.)
Problem: When traveling or hosting, there’s no alone time to decompress.
Solution: In the evenings, gather up the relatives and try to plan out the next day so you can carve out some chunks of alone time. If that much forward thinking is difficult, try to wake up a little earlier and pencil in your “me time” while everyone else is still asleep. Remember throughout the day that relaxation can happen in less than five minutes — simply stopping what you’re doing and reflecting for a few minutes will help lower the stressful fight-or-flight hormones that can sabotage an otherwise relaxing vacation.
Problem: Your family’s always fighting.
Solution: Depending on the kind of fight that’s taking place, a well-timed change of subject can help if the dispute hasn’t gotten too heated yet. Commenting on the food, asking about an absent relative, or suggesting a post-dinner movie (“Has anyone seen anything good lately?”) can distract would-be antagonists. If an impending argument is obvious, take each party aside separately and request that they hold off this year in the spirit of the holiday season. A good approach is to mention a parent or grandparent who will be present (“She’s 85 years old and deserves a peaceful, pleasant holiday”).
Problem: You expect your family (and holiday celebrations) to be perfect.
Solution: Give up all hope—yep, you read that right. Before arriving home, take some time to think of all the ways your family could be perfect… and then recognize that they never will be. You can only control how you behave and how you react to others. Knowing (and accepting) that fact will get you through this holiday and many more to come. So take some deep breaths and try to accept your loved ones (flaws and all) with an open heart. That’s what family is all about.
Works Cited
- Neural response to pictures of food after exercise in normal-weight and obese women. Hanlon B, Larson MJ, et al. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 2012 Oct;44(10):1864-70.
- Dose-dependent effects of alcohol on appetite and food intake. Caton SJ, Ball M, et al. Physiology & Behavior, 2004 Mar;81(1):51-8.
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