Banish the Holiday Bloat

No matter how hard we tried, most of us probably found ourselves slacking off a bit on our eating right and daily exercising routine during the holidays. I mean, come on, it’s hard to fit it all in, right? But now that it’s a new year, it’s time to banish that holiday bloat. All it takes is getting back to our normal routine. You know the one: not eating Christmas cookies for breakfast, drinking champagne at lunch and spending our evenings watching classics like “It’s a Wonderful Life” with our hand wrist deep in the caramel corn instead of taking the dog for a walk in the snow.

No matter how easy it sounds, though, getting back to our regular routine can be hard. Our bodies have gotten more used to the sugar high than the runner’s high. So, here are some tools to motivate you off the couch. To lace up your sneakers/hiking boots/snow shoes/ski boots, and work up a sweat. Because here’s the thing: those few pounds that you may have packed on over the holidays can turn into 10 in the blink of an eye. And as any of us who’ve gained and lost weight know, taking off 2-5 pounds isn’t a huge struggle, but taking off 10… that’s the kind of work that nobody wants. Especially not you. So, hopefully one of the following will help get you motivated.

Gadgets to Help Banish the Holiday Bloat

I am someone who’s totally goal oriented so something like the FitBit is hugely motivating for me. My friend Chans gave me one for my birthday a few years ago and it’s been life altering. My daily goal is 10,000 steps. In order to hit this, I’ve gotten in the habit of doing my errands by foot (a big deal in LA), parking my car in the furthest spot from the door and always taking the stairs. Sometimes, when I haven’t hit my goal for the day, I’ve even been known to pace my apartment in my PJs. However,  one of the downsides of the FitBit is that it’s kind of unsightly. I mean, I clip mine to the pocket of my pants which is not exactly a great look. Thankfully, the designers behind Public School have created some really cool looking bands/bracelets for the new FitBit Alta (this sucker not only tracks your steps, calories burned and hours slept, but even sends you texts alert reminders and calls. Who needs a trainer, right?). My favorite is the Type III Paracord bracelet, but feel free to check all the options here.

And if you’re someone who surfs or skis, this watch from Nixon will not only give you real time surf conditions such as tide, wind speed and water temperature, but it can also monitor snow fall and track your calories. It’s totally James Bond. Well, without the dial actually turning into a bomb. And it’s seriously good looking. It comes in a ton of colors, including black, but I love it in orange. Why? Because orange is one of those colors that not only lifts your spirit, it motivates you to, perhaps, get off your ass (there is a theme here). Check out the whole collection here.

Nothing Like Cute Tights to Get You Off the Couch

As anyone who follows this blog knows, I am a sucker for anything striped. I blame it on my childhood obsession with Winnie the Pooh’s Tiger. However, I also adore a good color block. Both are universally flattering and fun. Which is why I was so excited when I saw the new collection from New Balance and J. Crew.

Cute, right? You can shop the whole collection here. And if you’re looking for something that’s still darling, but perhaps a bit less expensive, these So Leggings from Kohl’s are a total steal at $19.99.

Check out the whole line here. And just to indulge my complete stripe mania, I have to include these stripe leggings from K-Deer. High waisted (which is fantastic for hiding a myriad of sins including the muffin top) and made with flat seams for comfort, these leggings are as functional as they are fun. Check ’em out here.

A Protein Bar That’s Actually Good for You

In general, I am not a fan of most protein bars. They either taste like moldy cardboard or are chock full of so much sugar that you might as well be sucking down a milk shake. But when you’re a busy gal on the go, especially one who is burning a lot of calories exercising her butt off, you sometimes need a fast fix. These RxBars are a good option. They not only proudly display their core unprocessed ingredients (egg whites, fruits & nuts) right on the package, but they’re also gluten, soy and dairy free, all natural, contain a whopping 12 grams of protein and have no added sugar. Oh, and they taste pretty good too. And let’s be honest, the packaging is fabulous. You can check out all of your options here.

It’s a new year so let’s start if off right by taking care of our bodies as well as our minds. Happy 2017!