Thanksgiving's over, and we hope you managed this first festive food holiday of the season successfully. But even if you strayed a bit from your eating and exercise plans, you can always get back on track. Here are 5 steps to help you resume your healthy habits.
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Restock
your kitchen. Make sure
no unhealthy foods (like highly processed chips and sugary sweets) have crept
back into the cupboards over the holiday. Take a trip to the supermarket to
replenish your healthy snacks, such as reduced-fat cheese, fat-free or
reduced-fat yogurt, vegetables for crudités, hummus, nuts, and fruits (Phase 2).
-
Return
to Phase 1, if necessary.
If you really overindulged, you may want to go back on Phase 1 for a few days
to eliminate any cravings for sugary and starchy carbs that might have
returned. While we don’t recommend staying on Phase 1 too long, it can help get
you back on track.
-
Move it. Getting regular and consistent exercise — a
minimum of 20 minutes of cardio interval or core-strengthening exercise most
days of the week — is an important element in any healthy lifestyle.
If you’ve skipped a few days of exercise over the holiday, don’t make it a
habit. Just resume your regular exercise routine and keep it up as best you can
through the busy weeks ahead. Remember that some exercise is better than none.
- Get ready for the next holiday. Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year's are just around the corner. Take the lessons you learned from Thanksgiving and use them to plan your next holiday celebration. If you keep your Thanksgiving setbacks and successes in mind, you'll be better prepared for the road ahead.
For more information about healthy
eating and exercise, and getting more essential sleep, check out Dr. Agatston’s
latest book, The South Beach Diet Wake-Up Call.
