Monday, January 4, 2016

After the parties....




I truly love the holiday season and I am sad that the festivities are over. But, I am happy to get a handle on the start of the new year (and I am not talking about love handles!). I am sure that you spent most of the holidays shopping for other important people in your life (and that’s a wonderful feeling when you can give to others!) but you probably didn’t have very much time for yourself. I believe that the best gift is the one we give to ourselves- the gift of health and well being.
So, this “post holiday” season, whether it’s cold outside or steamy hot,  take a deep breath and let’s spend some time and energy on taking care of you!
To start this I suggest a “clean eating detox”. By this I tell my clients that it is good to “cleanse your body” by eliminating all of the “bad foods” such as sugar, alcohol, processed foods and unhealthy carbs. And to do this I tell them the importance of simply eating three “healthy” meals a day.

#1) I suggest starting your morning with cup of warm filtered water with fresh lemon juice and honey. Lemon is a natural energizer- it hydrates, it detoxifies, and it oxygenates the body so it feels revitalized and refreshed! If you don’t like your drinks hot, room temp water with lemon and honey is fine. You can follow this up with your morning tea or coffee as you like.

#2) I suggest to my clients that they eat 3 healthy meals starting with breakfast. Breakfast is important as it sets your clock and gives you energy throughout the day. Don’t skip on lunch or dinner either!
    B- egg white scramble with veggies and a slice of whole grain toast.
    L- Salad with grilled fish or chicken like a mediterranean salad
    D- Healthy Meatless Monday dinner

#3) And lastly, do yourself a favor and go to bed early! I am sure the holidays took a toll on your mind and body, so I suggest that you get some much needed rest. Studies show that people who sleep less than seven hours per night are heavier, gain more weight over time, and have a harder time losing weight! Getting enough rest allows for making healthy food choices. Hitting the sack is just as important as sweating at the gym.

I would love to hear how this works for you and for more healthy ways to detox this winter contact me at rachel@livehealthynyc.com