Here at Realise we love nothing more than Christmas – the parties, the presents and, of course, the food. But so often Christmas is used as an excuse to overindulge and too much of anything is never a good thing. So, we have put together our top 10 tips to help you feel great and look after yourself in December.

TIP 1: REMEMBER CHRISTMAS DAY IS ONLY 1 DAY

The month of December is not an excuse to go on a free for all. It is only a ‘treat’ if you have it occasionally.

TIP 2: SOME CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS DON’T NEED TO BE KEPT

Often over Christmas we consume foods because tradition says so or because we always have. Think about whether you truly find the food you are eating delicious and if it makes you feel good – if not it is time to pass on it. And yes that means saying No to the Quality Streets left at the bottom of the tin.

TIP 3: KEEP UP YOUR USUAL GOOD HABITS

Remember:

· Start the day with a good breakfast. Porridge is a great choice for stabilising your blood sugars so you don’t give into treats and chocolates throughout the morning. We’ve recently been adding a teaspoon of Cinnamon and Cacao to spice up ours.

· Keep to your healthy snacks, such as nuts and fruit, to again stop you reaching for sugary treats – trust us you will regret them later.

· Don’t let December be an excuse for not keeping up your usual exercise routine.

TIP 4: ENJOY YOUR VEGETABLES

Vegetables can be at their best around Christmas so enjoy and savour them as much as possible. Spruce up those sprouts and get them into the holiday spirit too.

TIP 5: BEWARE OF THE BUFFET

Whether it is at the work party or a relative’s house on Boxing Day, chances are you will come face-to-face with at least one buffet this season. Remember to choose carefully – a good tip for restraint is to make sure at least half your plate is salad or vegetables.

TIP 6: CATCH UP ON SLEEP

Make sure you get some good sleep and rest over Christmas. The hunger hormone Ghrelin is produced in excess when you are sleep deprived. Additionally, Leptin, the hormone that tells your brain you are full, diminishes. If you are well rested, you will find it much easier to not overindulge.

TIP 7: STAY HYDRATED

This is especially important when you are out partying. It will help you feel better the next day and often dehydration can be mistaken for hunger.

TIP 8: ENJOY TIME OUT TO FOCUS ON HOME COOKING

Time off work means you can take the time out to cook and make your meals –allowing you to focus on good quality ingredients that do your body good.

TIP 9: PLAN YOUR MEALS

A great way to not lose all control and to give into every temptation is to plan your meals – you can work treats that you will savour into them. It’s also a great organisational tip to help take some of the stress away from everything that needs to be done over Christmas. Jotting down what you are eating is also a great way to keep those indulgences in check.

TIP 10: ABIDE BY OUR GOLDEN RULE – 80/20

80% of the time focus on what is good for you, then treat yourself 20% of the time. This allows you to still enjoy those meals out and chocolates but it keeps it all in moderation.

REMEMBER….

As corny as it sounds the best gift you can give yourself is feeling great and being healthy. Look after yourself, enjoy Christmas and be ready to start the new year feeling refreshed and revitalized.