Jonathan Bailor
Author of “The Calorie Myth“
My secret to staying healthy over the holidays: Time is especially scarce during the holidays, but that is not a problem as modern science has proven that exercising less—but smarter—helps us achieve our health and fitness goals in just minutes each week. I focus on activities that you can’t do a lot of—because they are so effective—such as safe, slow, and heavy resistance training and no-impact interval training.
When I’m at a party, I focus on eating more from the veggie platter and choosing nutritious protein options like shrimp cocktail, non-processed meats, and other savory treats. Also, enjoy healthy fats like guacamole and nuts, as well as low-fructose fruits (strawberries, black berries, blueberries, etc.) so that you are too full for processed starches and sweets such as cookies, cake, and pie. When it comes to alcohol, wine and clear hard liquor without sugary mixes are always your best options.
My holiday indulgence: By maximizing the quality of my food, I indulge daily, not just on holidays, without compromising my health or waistline. Cookies, cake, and ice cream made with cocoa, coconut flour and coconut milk, and sweetened with natural harmless sweeteners such as stevia or xylitol keep nearly everything in control.