We definitely enjoy celebrating the holidays when they come around each year. That’s what quality time with loved ones is all about! We don’t want any of you to live with regret. Slipping up can be good sometimes. It makes you want to get back on track that much more, giving you more motivation and drive to make the best choices for your body.
That said, it’s important to remember that after an indulgent weekend, bouncing back is the best way to stay on track and continue working towards your goals. Here are a few tips to show you how we bounce back during the holidays…
1. Drink Up.
After traveling, tons of activity and possibly a few cocktails, your body is dehydrated. For the next two days focus on drinking half your body weight in ounces of water throughout the day. This means if you weigh 150 pounds, you should drink at least 75 ounces of water in one day. This will help reduce cravings for sugary food from the weekend. I love adding natural flavors to our water like cucumber, mint and lemon. This will also help with pH levels (read below to learn more about those!).
2. Go Raw.
This word can scare a lot of people. Raw food diets can be intimidating because they imply a strict, difficult to follow regimen. The truth is, including an abundance of raw foods into your meals for the next few days will leave you feeling vibrant and recharged. Your digestive system has been in overdrive all weekend with heavy meals and now it’s time to give your body a break.
It’s not necessary to eat exclusively raw foods to reap the benefits. Just include plenty of raw foods into each meal for a day or so, loading up on green smoothies, leafy greens, fresh vegetable juices and seasonal fruits. Raw foods are unprocessed and bursting with nutrients that your body will easily absorb. As a bonus, all that fiber will help you feel cleansed. For protein, opt for lighter options like tempeh, tofu or fish alongside your meals.
Some of our favorite raw foods:
Fruits: Apples, bananas, papaya (contains digestive enzymes), grapefruit, watermelon, kiwi, berries, mangos
Vegetables: Kale (a great source of fiber), broccoli, spinach, snap peas, arugula, leafy greens, zucchini, cucumbers, cabbage, carrots, onions (cleanse the liver), bell peppers, celery, avocados (technically a fruit!)
Supplements: Wheat grass, green superfood mix and psyllium husk. Psyllium husk is an amazing source of fiber. Mix 1 tbs. with almond milk once a day for the next 2 days to help cleanse your system.
Some nuts & seeds: Keep these on the low side for the next day.
Herbs & Spices: Cinnamon, parsley, basil, cilantro, cayenne, ginger, fresh mint and garlic
Bounce Back Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients:
1 cup kale
½ banana
½ cucumber
3 strawberries
4 fresh mint sprigs
pinch of ginger powder
1 Tbs. psyllium husk
1 Tbs. wheatgrass or green superfood powder
½ cup fresh pineapple or apple juice.
Blend all ingredients, pour, sip and enjoy!
3. Bring Your Acid Levels Down.
Having the right alkaline balance is important for many reasons including improving energy levels, decreasing your inflammation, supporting disease prevention and more. After indulging in processed foods, sugary treats, bread, dairy and a few cocktails, you need to balance your pH levels.
Focus on eating alkaline-forming foods like the ones listed above along with adding lemon to your water. Green, leafy vegetables along with cucumbers, avocado and wheat grass are all very alkaline forming.
4. Do Cardio & Weights.
After a few too many treats, your body has extra glycogen stored in your muscles. The best way to burn through it before it’s stored as fat is to increase cardio and hit the weights for a full body routine.
5. Walk & Rest.
Recharge and relax with a good 30-minute walk after dinner for the next few days. This will also help you unwind before bed while enjoying a bit of much needed “you time” after a busy weekend. Head to bed and get at least 7.5 hours of rest each night to reset your system.
