Holiday Diet

I know the holidays are coming up and I know that some of you are still trying to burn off all the calories you inhaled over Thanksgiving-I know I am! With Hanukkah already having passed and with Christmas coming up, there sure is going to be a lot of cookie, cake and gingerbread consumption. For those of you worried about gaining weight and maintaining your figure during the holidays, here are some ways you can achieve this...


1. Drink orange juice.
Flavonoids, the antioxidant-like compounds in OJ, may offset the heart-damaging effects of a calorie- and fat-laden meal. 



2. Eat fruit.
Eating antioxidant-rich fruits—including berries, grapes, kiwi and cherries—helps minimize the harmful free-radical damage that occurs after a meal. 


3. Drizzle vinegar.
Having a tablespoon of vinegar with your meal, (for example, drizzled on your salad), may temper the spike in blood sugar that occurs after eating a big, carbohydrate-rich meal.


4. Drink wine.
The antioxidants in red wine may reduce the negative impact of high-fat foods by lowering levels of a compound—produced in the body after eating fat—that's linked with heart disease. Cook with red wine or enjoy a glass with dinner. But remember, moderation is key!


And in regards to fitness...


1. Keep going to the gym (check your local gym's holiday hours)


For those traveling...


2. Walk or run each morning-it'll keep your heart racing and is good for your legs as well.


3. Jump rope- it may seem silly, but jumping rope is a great work out and is fun as well. Count how many times you jump and every day try and beat your record-who knows how many hours you will end up spending! 


4. Dance- whether it be going to the club with your friends, dancing the night away with that special someone, or getting your groove on with the new wii systems, dancing is a great way to sweat away the pounds-plus it's fun! 


5. Bicycle- doesn't matter if it's up hill, down hill, long distance or just around the town, biking is a good way to get your muscles going and keep your heart racing. 

Enjoy your holidays but remember that eating TOO much will come back to haunt you if you don't continue your work-out. :]