Simple Systems: Holiday Parties

Tis' the season for holiday parties filled with awesomely ugly holiday sweaters, pretty dresses, cookies, and all the other delicious stuff we stay away from in bikini season. There are a few simple secrets out there for ways to eat, drink, and be merry at holiday parties without packing on some extra lbs. Here are my three faves!

Eat

Eat at home. This may seem counter productive since there is a party with free food in the near future, but it is important. Christmas parties tend to have foods filled with hidden carbs and fats with little nutritional value... Even the healthy crudites are lacking with all the added dressings.

Snacking at home before a party will curb our appetite just enough so we do not go into starvation mode. There are more healthy choices for foods at home and not feeling famished at a party will encourage mild eating with fewer sweets and carbs. Besides, who wants to spend more time with the bon bons than friends?

Drink

There are usually lots and lots of yummy drink options at parties. I would never say to not even try one, but limit it to one. Having one of those carbtastic sugar drinks will leave our brains satisfied without killing all the gym work that week. After a splurge drink, stick to water; it will be more satisfying and the extra hydration will help skin keep that pretty holiday glow!

And Work It

This is my biggest secret to curbing holiday gorging and will even help you stick to the other two tips!

Once party time rolls around, workout per usual, but only workout for 85% of the usual time. The 85% rule seems to be the perfect medium between feeling satisfied with a workout and feeling like the workout was not enough. Working out less on a party day will actually do more for our health than working out more or not working out at all. On days when people workout over their average, they tend to feel like that extra french fry or cookie won't matter as much. When people skip a gym day, it is easier to think the whole day does not count and will start back on a healthy lifestyle tomorrow. Neither of these are what we want when mass cookies are near. 

By working out a little less than the usual, we will not feel like the entire day is a wash, but we will also not feel like we did enough. This feeling of not doing enough will help curb unhealthy cravings and keep us away from the unhealthy eats.

And yes, I am terrible for using that picture... Insert evil laugh now ;)

Meat Free Monday: Caramelized Onion and Pear Pizza

Home made pizza is a great replacement for Dominos, is healthier, and will cost quite a bit less! To be honest, I was going to save pizza for another day, but we had this last week and it was so pretty and yummy and wonderful- Well, I had to share! I hope you enjoy the simple prep and yummy-ness as much as we did! Pairs great with a light salad ;)

Servings: 2-4    Prep Time: 15 minutes    Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

1 lb pre or homemade pizza dough

1 tablespoon honey

2 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

1-2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon sugar

1 cup pear, thinly sliced

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Set oven to 450 degrees. Slice the pear and onion and mix the pear with lemon juice so the pears maintain color. Set aside and heat a skillet over medium/high heat. Add in olive oil and thinly sliced onions. Wait until onions begin to cook, then add in sugar. You may need to turn heat down at this point. Wait until onions are cooked, 5 minutes, then add in balsamic. Reduce for another 5-10 minutes until caramelized. Be sure to take skillet off heat when adding the balsamic, things could get messy. Once cooked, take off heat and set aside.

Meanwhile, knead pizza dough, mixing in the honey as you knead. Separate the dough into two equal sized lumps. Flatten dough into pizza pies that are about 1/8 an inch thick. I usually use a roller to get them thin. Do not worry about them being perfectly circular either, mine never are.

Once pizza is ready, place the pear and onions on the dough. Keep a few pears to be placed over the cheese. Add the cheese onto the pizza and a few pears to the top of the cheese. Cook on baking sheet for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the pizza should be firm enough to remove the baking sheet. Cook without baking sheet another 3-5 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

Hotel Room Workout

Traveling goes with the territory of the holidays. Whether you are staying with family or in a hotel room, this workout is something that can be done with limited space and without disturbing anyone's peace. The entire workout takes about 15 minutes, but is able to get your cardio going and muscles burning! No need to take up extra suitcase room with running shoes, all this workout needs is a towel for the floor.

Calorie burn: 100+

Wall Squats

Start and end this workout with 30 seconds to 1 minute of wall squats. Arms should be at your sides with back completely touching the wall and legs hip width apart. Make sure that your knees are at a 90 degree angle the entire time.

Plank Tuck with Leg Extension

Get into plank position with arms either extended or resting on your forearms. Tuck the left leg in towards the right arm, then extend the leg up so it is as high as possible while keeping hips even. Hold the for 5 seconds then go back to the starting position. Complete one minute per leg.

Side Plank Lifts

Rotate your body to the right from plank position so you right arm is under your shoulder and the left foot is stacked on top of the right. Either keep arm extended or lower so you are resting in your forearm. Slowly lower your body so you are almost touching the ground, then rise back up. Complete 20-30 side plank lifts per side.

Bicycle Crunches

Lay on your back in sit up position. Extend your legs straight out so the are at a 45 degree angle from the ground. Bring left leg and right elbow in so they are almost touching then extend straight out to starting position. Alternate between left and right side for 2 minutes.

Squats

Stand with legs should width apart and facing forward. Bend knees as far down as possible while still keeping torso straight. Hold for 3-5 seconds then rise back up. Complete 30.

Crunches

Complete 50-100 crunches without shoulder blades touching the floor. Hands should be under head and eyes should be looking towards the ceiling. The only muscle group working is the abs. Make sure no back muscles aid in lifting you off the ground.

Wall Squats

back should be completely against wall, legs hip width apart, and arms at your side. Bend legs to 90 degrees and hold. And cry.

Plank Tuck with Leg Extension

Tuck leg in towards opposing arm and hold for 5 seconds

Plank Tuck with Leg Extension

Go into plank position. Resting on forearms is optional.

Plank Tuck with Leg Extension

Lift leg as high as possible while keeping hips even.

Side Plank Lifts

Go into side plank with body only resting on arm and foot. Body should be straight.

Side Plank Lifts

Lower your body so your hip is about 1 inch from the ground. Hold and return to starting. Complete 20-30 per side.

Bicycle Crunches

Lay on back in sit up position with legs extended 2 inches from the ground. Bring left arm and right knee in so they are touching. Alternate sides for 2 minutes.

Squats

Complete 30 squats with legs shoulder width apart.Hold with legs bent for 5 seconds.

Crunches

Start in crunch position with everything from the shoulder blades up off the floor. Hold neck and keep eyes on the ceiling.

Crunches

Contract your abs and use that force alone to lift your body. Hold, then go back to starting. Complete 50-100 making sure shoulder blades do not touch the ground.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I have been thinking a lot today about everything I am thankful for, and there is so much. Of course, there are all the major things like a roof over my head, a happy home, and plenty of food...But what I have decided to focus on most is all the little things that I love but overlook in my day-to-day life. Things like the little Eskimo kisses our cats give us, a husband who enjoys opening doors for me, comfy shoes, a working dishwasher, and candles that smell yummy are all so easy to take for granted but I am so thankful to have! I am so especially thankful for such a wonderful family! Even though I am not with all of them today, I am so happy to have them.

What are some of the small things that you are most thankful for? Think of a few and share them, I would love to hear your list of the little things too!