A solid month of Christmas festivities can be challenging for even the most health-conscious people…
So, we checked in with our IQS experts to see how they survive the festive feasting and ensure that they’re still fighting fit when 2018 rolls around.
Holistic dentist, Lewis Ehrlich, prioritises sleep in order to maintain his health…
“During the Christmas period, it’s very easy to let your sleep and exercise routine go out the window. I make sure that despite an increase in social events, I’m asleep as early as I can be. If I’m well rested, I find that I have more energy to exercise. I’m also more likely to make healthy choices when it comes to food, and less likely to turn to sugar-based foods for short-term energy.”
Personal trainer, Diana Tencic, relies on exercise to keep her sane during December!
“I find that during December I am more conscious of moving so I use a scheduling app to set all my movement for the week. 15 minutes of movement a day to keep me Christmas-sane!”
Holistic nutritionist and yoga therapist, Raj Barker, practices moderation at this time of year.
“In an attempt to not completely lose my cool at holiday parties, I always try and have a solid meal beforehand – especially if it’s a grazing-type setup where I could potentially get stuck in the chip corner. Being super mindful of hydration and spacing out drinks also helps to keep hangovers at bay. But in all honesty, I do let my guard down a bit during this fun time of year – it is to be enjoyed, not stressed over. A little headache and a sugar high really never killed anyone. As long as you have the discipline to rein it in when you need to – enjoy yourself!”
Naturopath, Emily Seddon, makes a point of moving her body everyday.
“I think the most valuable thing I do to keep myself healthy over the holidays is factor in an hour of physical activity everyday with a partner. Some days it’s going for a run with my brother, walking the long route to the coffee shop with some friends, while other days I like to pretend I can surf alongside my boyfriend. That way, they keep me accountable to actually get moving plus we get to enjoy the beautiful summer weather.”
Chinese medicine specialist, Sean Allison, strives for balance during this busy time…
“For me, enjoying the holiday period is all about balance. When it comes to overindulging, I often remind myself of the old Japanese saying of ‘only eat until you are 80 per cent full’. This essentially means stopping before you have overdone it and you can apply this to many aspects of life, not just food. Consuming too much meat, dairy, alcohol and sugary food taxes our being and leaves us feeling exhausted in body, mind and spirit. I try and go gently, remembering every day to try and do the following five things well… eat, sleep, breathe, move, love.”
Holistic dietitian and nutritionist, Natalie Bourke, brings snacks with her to prevent overeating at Christmas parties.
“I’m proactive in choosing the location for Christmas catch ups so I know that there will always be something healthy to choose on the menu. I also try to suggest things that are more active like a nice hike, a fun water activity or a picnic with sports involved. However, we can’t always control these situations so in the instances where I do have a party to go to and I don’t have control over the food, I have a small meal beforehand with lots of veggies and I will keep a healthy snack in my bag like nuts. I also bring some therapeutic grade (edible) essential oils and add a drop to some sparkling water instead of wracking up the red wines!”
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