Happy Monday! We are finally getting some snow and it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas! I love snow and think winter is so much better with lots of it. It’s going to be cold outside so why not have some snow to play in?
Winter can be tough to stick to your health and fitness goals because of the holidays, less daylight and the cold. Because of these added challenges in the winter, I am always looking for ways to move more during my day. I’m not talking about adding extra gym sessions to my day, either. Our bodies are meant to move and when we move we burn stored energy (calories in the form of fat or glucose). Unfortunately, we tend to move less in the winter.
It is always important to add additional movement into our daily routine besides our exercise routine and it is that much more important during the winter. Not only will it help you move and feel better, movement helps with:
- thinking, learning and remembering
- connecting and building relationships with others
- lowers stress
- releases endorphin’s and makes you happier
With less daylight and the cold, we can easily turn into unsocial hermits that don’t leave our house for months. Additional daily movement can change that. So, how can you add just a little bit more movement in your days? Here are some things to help you out:
- take the stairs
- park far away from any entrance
- clean the house
- stand at your desk instead of sit (if it allows)
- take the long way around when walking places
Holiday parties are in full force and Christmas and the New Year will be here before we know it! Having a healthier cocktail to sip on is a must! Champagne is my go to when at parties and I will even order it when I am out. This is my holiday inspired healthy holiday cocktail to have all the holiday feels!
- 1 bottle chilled champagne
- 6 ounces 100% percent cranberry juice
- ¼ cup raw cranberries
- ½ of 1 orange, sliced and halved
- To make one large batch add the champagne, cranberry juice, raw cranberries and orange slices to a large pitcher. Gently stir and serve!
- To make individual servings (if you won't be using the entire bottle of champagne) add 1 ounce of cranberry juice to a champagne glass, top with champagne and add in desired amount of raw cranberries and orange slices.