Experts say don’t lose sight of your fitness goals this holiday season

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – Nearly 81 percent of adults plan to have a home-cooked holiday dinner, according to Statista. Eating healthier, losing weight, and exercising more are among the top five resolutions, according to Statista.

Regardless of the abundance of food, those in health and wellness say we should keep our goals in mind as we head into the holiday season.

“It’s typically not the individual events that get us in trouble, but it’s when we just continue those bad habits from one holiday into the next,” said Health and Wellness Director for Med Center Health, Sarah Widener.

With multiple holiday parties coming, everyone is thinking about the food and drinks will not be far away.

Widener recommends only one alcoholic beverage for women and two for men. She says these drinks can be sneaky.

“So that sugar is going to add up to more calories,” she said. “The other thing that alcohol does is it lowers our inhibition. So we tend to eat a little bit more increases that appetite a little. Maybe we’re trying to soak up the alcohol with a little bit of.”

During this time, we’ll also be dashing to the store and spreading holiday cheer, but Widener says sleep can impact the foods we reach for.

“We’re looking through for that energy throughout the day,” Widener said. “So we want the higher calorie foods, sugary beverages, more caffeine and it just creates a vicious cycle.”

Widener even has a tip for hosts who want everything to go according to plan. She says yes, it’s important to delegate and get sleep. It’s just as important to make sure the hosts are taking care of themselves instead of focusing only on others.

“Taking time to do something that you enjoy, whether it’s walking or reading or just sitting quietly,” she said.

Widener also suggests getting your family active after your meal like walking. She says it can help with blood sugar levels.

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