‘Tis the Season to Eat Cookies? 5 Tips for Staying Fit This Winter

The holiday season in officially in full swing and at this point you may be wondering how you will ever be able to squeeze into that dress for New Years that had fit so well pre-Thanksgiving dinner. It seems that everywhere you go, someone is decorating cookies, brewing hot cocoa or giving out free candy canes. In the season of love and happiness, it is a pain to be constantly worrying about your weight. So here are some helpful hints so that come January, you still feel great.

Don’t let those cookies fool you…they’re not as good as they look.

1.Get a routine. Yes, I know it can seem like a terribly far walk to the gym, especially when it looks so cold outside, but it is worth it. Before you start your week, schedule times to workout and commit to them. Getting to the gym will be a much less daunting activity. But, the gym isn’t your only option.

2. Mix up your routine. Walk where you need to go rather than taking a taxi or SEPTA. Run down to the boathouses while listening to some of your favorite holiday music.

Try mixing your exercise routine up with a Yoga class near Penn

3. Exercise stress away. Not only does exercising help you burn some of those cookie-caused calories, it also reduces stress. This is beneficial because stress is one of the main reasons you may overindulge at your residence’s holiday party this year. And because everyone knows that the last couple of weeks of the semester can be busy, you must make exercising a priority.

4. Snack to eat less. Of course, along with the holidays come the holiday parties where never fail, you will be surrounded by loved ones, cheer, and, of course, a smorgasbord of the best goodies the season has to offer. Prepare for these moments by eating before you arrive because, on an empty stomach, even some of the more mediocre cookies are irresistible. By not arriving hungry to a buffet full of sweets, you will make better decisions as to the quality and amount of the cookies you choose.

Need an idea for a healthy lunch recipe? Check out Rachel’s Easy Orzo Recipe

5. Be picky. I’ll let you in on a secret: some of those free cookies the stores are giving out, well, there is a reason why they are free. Try to save your sweet intake for treats that are extra special. Maybe try to limit yourself to treats that are only around during the holiday season. For example, you have all year to eat Insomnia cookies, so maybe skip out on one of those babies in favor of your grandma’s homemade Cinnamon buns. The more selective you are with your desserts, the more you can enjoy your holiday favorites.

Staying svelte through these couple of weeks really boils down to the question of how committed you are. If you maintain a regular exercise schedule and are conscious of your food choices your New Year’s dress will treat you well. Whatever you do, promise yourself you will start now — don’t let yourself go with the promise that you’ll start getting health in January. You will have to deal with the reality of the fact that it is a whole lot easier to gain weight than it is to lose it. Thus, to maintain a steady weight is the all-around best way to ensure a happiness now and in the new year. So go for a beautiful jog down by the river and enjoy, guilt-free, your grandma’s home cooking. The holiday season is a fabulous time of the year; why shouldn’t you look fabulous, too?