Oh it’s wonderful time of the year again. The holidays are an opportunity for us to get together with friends, family and loved ones. The days can be filled with so much joy and so much laughter. No other month brings us together the same way December does. Yet on the other side of the coin, no other month causes the same levels of stress.

It’s busy. Most of us get wound up with what the month entails. Getting the house ready for guests, preparing meals for dinner parties, cleaning up, buying gifts, and traveling to be with family and friends. No doubt that it can get hectic, and often our health takes a back seat as we want to indulge.

Take a breath and realize what amazing opportunities we have at this time of the year. The chance to be with the ones who enrich our lives is truly a gift. When we’re stressing about what’s coming up next week, or wondering if we have what it takes to pull off the turkey dinner, we lose ourselves in the future and neglect the wonderful opportunities that the present holds.

Often we’re worried about putting on those extra pounds during the holidays. Once it starts, it is hard to resist the desserts and the abundance that the month offers.

It doesn’t have to be that way this year. It is time to take the power back into your own hands.

Life is all about balance. Keeping it in balance does not need to be difficult or make you feel restrained from enjoying the parties and the food.

So let me share with you the top seven tips for the happiest and healthiest holidays.

Remember the 80/20 Rule

It’s what you do 80% of the time that matters the most. This goes for everything; your diet, actions, and behaviours. We can have a treat from time to time, it’s okay to indulge every once in a while. To stay in balance we need to cultivate an overall sense of good habits.

Start your meals with two bites of protein

When protein is the first thing to hit your stomach, your pancreas releases the hormone glucagon. Glucagon is the antagonist of insulin. It blocks insulin production which leads to lower insulin levels and stimulates fat burning, blocks fat synthesis and prevents the dreaded attacks of ravenous appetite.

Drink two liters of water each day

Water helps cleanse our body and wash out residues and toxins resulting from the natural process of tissue breakdown. If you don’t have enough, those substances remain in the body and you may gain weight. It can also help make you full and curb your appetite and promote positive circulation. Your cells are comprised of water and need it for their proper functioning.

Find the time to exercise

If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it. Exercise promotes circulation and moves oxygen into your organs, making you feel alive. When we exercise we provide energy to our bodies. When we have higher muscle mass we naturally burn fat at a faster rate. Exercising can help us feel better and reduce stress. Ever heard of the runner’s high? It is the release of endorphins (the feel good hormone) in the body after strenuous workouts, it’s our body’s natural reward mechanism.

It doesn’t need to be difficult. Get a pedometer and aim to walk 10,000 steps a day. It’s really not as daunting as it sounds. Find a buddy to go to the gym with and keep each other accountable. Whatever you do, the important thing is to get your body moving.

Give yourself a mini-fast

So you went a little overboard with the food, drinks, and desserts last night and now you’re feeling a bit bloated? No worries! It’s perfectly okay to give yourself a mini-fast every once in a while and replace your breakfast with water with lemon and get some exercise before your first meal. Breakfast means to “break the fast” that occurs while we sleep, using up our glycogen stores. If we continue this fast through lunch time our body will begin to rely on fat for fuel. As long as you eat normally (and make sure you get good fats and lean protein) for the rest of the day you should be good to go! If you are supplementing with something like insulin you should check with your GP before doing this.

Eat your good fats

For some reason people still think that eating good fats causes us to become fat. That’s simply not true. In fact it can do the opposite. Fat is an essential part of every single one of your cell membranes and is also required in order to properly digest fat soluble vitamins. We need good quality fats as a source of energy and to help manage inflammation in our bodies. Inflammation is one of the main reasons why we have so many diseases today.

Eating “good” fats make us feel fuller quicker and longer – craving less of the foods our bodies don’t need. Eating good fats also stabilizes your insulin and blood sugar levels, preventing them from crashing and making you crave more sugary calories. So if you are going to have that piece of cake, it’s good to also throw in some nuts on the side. Avocado, olive oil, flax Seed oil, and nuts and seeds are all great foods to add into your diet. Try putting two tablespoons of flax seeds and flax seed oil into a morning smoothie and watch how you feel fuller longer.

Take a few moments out of your day to express gratitude

It’s easy to get caught up in the holiday season and lose sight of what really matters. We should be cherishing the moments with our loved ones and focusing on the present. One great way to do this is to think to yourself of three different things you are grateful for every morning when you wake up, and every night before you go to bed. Not only will this make your days generally happier, but you will begin to find joy in the little things and truly appreciate the time you have in your day.

Remember what the holidays are all about!

Top Seven Tips for the Happiest & Healthiest Holiday Season