Is it just us, or has this year gone unbelievably fast? We have experienced such a rollercoaster of a year, it is definitely time for a well-earned break. As the holiday season approaches, it can be difficult to relax if you’re constantly stressing about making healthy choices. That’s why we’ve compiled five of our most helpful, easy tips to ensure you have the happiest Christmas yet.

You might also like to check one of our earlier blogs, “How to Survive the Festive Season after Bariatric Surgery”.

Eat a healthy, filling breakfast

It can be easy to get caught up on Christmas morning, opening presents and rushing around trying to get to places on time—so much so that you might forget to eat breakfast. But doing so can set you up for a day of over-eating. Ensure you make time for a delicious, healthy breakfast that will keep you full and satisfied for longer, such as oats or avocado on toast.

Move your body

Christmas family functions are so often centred around a meal (lunch or dinner), that for the most part, we end up sitting around the table, eating and chatting. Suggest a game of backyard cricket or go for a family walk, whatever it takes to squeeze a little bit of exercise into your day. Not only will it boost your mood, but it will help kick-start your digestion and get rid of that “heavy” feeling we so often experience after a Christmas meal!

Stay hydrated

No, a Christmas cocktail will not keep you adequately hydrated! You can still enjoy alcoholic beverages, just try and have at least a glass of water between drinks. Australian Christmases are hot, and drinking water will help keep you cool and replace any fluid loss from sweating. Having water between drinks will also slow your alcohol consumption, which limits the amount of empty calories you are consuming.

Don’t pack your plate

It can be tempting to fill your plate with everything that is in front of you. Take the time to decide on a few things you really want to eat, and start with those. Try not to pack your plate—you can always go back for seconds. Another tip for controlling your portion sizes is to use a smaller plate.

Try to relax!

As much as these tips might help you have a healthy Christmas, try not to stress too much about the choices you make. It’s important to try and maintain a healthy lifestyle as often as possible, but Christmas is most importantly a time to enjoy, be with family, friends and relax! Luckily, the new year is just around the corner, which is a great time for kick-starting those healthy habits.

Merry Christmas from Emerge Surgical

We would like to wish all of our clients and followers a very Merry Christmas, and a safe and happy New Year from the team at Emerge Surgical. After a year like this one, you all deserve to have an amazing break. We’ll see you in 2021!