Office parties.  Family gatherings.  Cookies. Cakes. Cocktails.  As a working mom, who has the time or motivation to work out?  If you aren’t careful, the holiday season can leave you with extra pounds and little motivation to work it off.  Follow these five simple steps to stay fit during the holiday season:

1 – Go green.  I try to start my day with a green shake to get in as many veggies as possible. I like the NutriBullet Pro to make my green shakes.  Just add 2-3 cups of a leafy green (kale, spinach, swiss chard), Greek yogurt, and whatever fruit you like.  One of the most common shakes I make is spinach, Greek yogurt, pineapple, garlic, ground flax seed, and water. If you start your day green, you’re less likely to get off track later in the day.  You can also add a salad to your daily meal to get in extra veggies.  When you’re eating more sweets than usual, piling on the greens is a great way to stay balanced.

2 – Be prepared. The best way to make sure you stay on track is to prepare your healthy meals ahead of time.  If you prep your green shakes in advance, you can just grab them from the fridge and blend.  It also makes a convenient grab and go breakfast on your way to work.  I usually make 5-6 green shakes for the week.  If you don’t like green shakes, you can also make egg muffins or overnight oats.  The key is to start the day healthy and prepare in advance.  Not only does it save time, but you will always have a healthy alternative at your fingertips.

3 – Keep moving.  During the holidays, there are a lot of distractions.  As a working mom, when things get hectic, the first thing to sacrifice is exercise. While you might not make it to the gym, you can still get a workout.  Wake up 30 minutes earlier and do a workout video.  Try to get more steps in at work.  Instead of a sitting lunch, make a wrap or sandwich and get moving.  Walk the perimeter of your job or do the stairs.  You can even set a lunchtime goal.  For example, if you walk 2,000 steps during lunch, you would have walked about a mile.  If you walk 2,000 steps during lunch each day for five days, you would have walked about 5 miles during your lunch breaks alone!

4 – Be selective.  If you’re going to have dessert or a cocktail, make it count!  Don’t waste your calories on something that’s just okay.  Try to do everything in moderation. I don’t believe in denying myself.  But, I’m selective about how I spend my calories.  I’m not going to waste my calories on powdered donuts from the gas station when I really want a slice of cheesecake. If you choose something you really want, you’re more likely to feel satisfied and less likely to overdo it.

5 – Drink up.  Water does a body good, especially if there’s alcohol involved.  With all the holiday celebrations, it’s easy to forget to hydrate.  The more water you drink, the better you’ll feel. It’s important to stay hydrated and flush out those holiday toxins.  If you want to stay energized and not feel sluggish, you need to load up on water.  Another great benefit of water is that it has zero calories.  If you’re feeling fancy, add some fruit or lemon to spruce up your water.  But, skip the soda and juice and have water with your meal. If you normally have a soda or juice, you’ll cut out an average of 48 grams of sugar by drinking water.  Those 48 grams = 12 teaspoons of sugar = a slice of cake.  I’d rather have the cake and drink the water!

The holidays only add to the hustle and bustle of your busy schedule.  Stay on track with your fitness goals by planning and being selective about your choices. You can stay fit during the holiday season and continue to live your best life in balance!

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Dear Working Mom,

Shopping. Cooking. Entertaining. Family.  The holidays can be stressful, but they don’t have to be.  You can beat the holiday stress and have a relaxed holiday season by following these five simple steps:

1- Do something for someone in need.  One of the best ways to avoid holiday stress is to remember why you’re grateful. No matter what challenges you are facing, someone would love to trade their problems for yours.  Each year, I make holiday gift bags for the homeless. It’s one of my favorite things to do because I know people really need it.  Find a cause you believe in or someone who really needs help.  Pay it forward!  If you go out to eat, look for a waiter or waitress to surprise with an extra-large tip.  Go to Wal-Mart and pay the balance on a layaway account of someone you don’t know.  Offer to babysit one afternoon for a mom in your inner circle.  See a single mom in a restaurant or grocery store and pay her bill.  Don’t underestimate the joy you can give and receive from helping others.

2 – Go giftless.  When we were dating, my husband and I stopped exchanging gifts on Christmas.  It was one of the best decisions we’ve made.  Buying gifts during the Christmas season can become stressful. For Tristan, I usually stick with one big gift and a couple of smaller items.  Since we’ve had kids, we rarely even buy gifts for our extended family.  With two families, it can become quite expensive and overwhelming.  In the absence of gifts, you can choose to focus on relationships and enjoying one another.  As an added benefit, you can avoid overspending!

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3 – Let them eat catered.  Working mom, don’t stress over cooking!  If you don’t like to cook or don’t have the time, order out.  Just make sure you place your order early.  You can even let the family have input on the menu and caterer.  It might be different for your family, but they will probably appreciate you being more relaxed.  I remember my grandmother being in the kitchen all day and night during the holidays.  While the food was always delicious, I don’t remember her having time to enjoy it.  She was usually exhausted from cooking for days! With someone else doing the cooking, you can enjoy your family without feeling overwhelmed.

4 – Prep everything beforehand.  I like to cook, so this works well for me.  If you don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen the night before and all day on the holiday, preparation is key.  You can buy pre-cut veggies to save time.  Or, cut up them up two days before and seal tight in the fridge.  Clean and season any meats one to two days before and allow them to marinate in the refrigerator. Make your fillings for pies or casseroles and have them ready to pour into the pan.  Once it is all prepped, you can cook it the night before or the morning of without being stressed.

5 – Keep it simple. Don’t over complicate the holidays by trying to do too much.  You could whip out your fine China, but won’t that make more work for you?  Don’t feel the need to impress anyone.  If you’re having guests, have them bring a covered dish.  Ditch the traditional meal and do something fun and simple, like grilling.  Make your life easy and use paper products.  Avoid having to clean your house afterwards by eating outside (I live in South Florida).  Don’t stress out trying to create a perfect experience or image for someone else.  Stay in balance by keeping it simple.

Working mom, you may actually have time off from work – so,take advantage!  Be thankful for the opportunity to share with friends and family.  You can have a stress-free holiday season and continue to live your best life in balance by keeping things simple.

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