‘Tis the season for overeating! Luckily, Jorge Cruise, fitness trainer and health expert to the stars, revealed to Us his top suggestions for staying fit and healthy during the calorie-packed holiday season.
The New York Times best-selling author (who previously created diet plans for Angelina Jolie and Chrissy Teigen!) has five tips to help you avoid holiday weight gain.
1. Pre-Eat Before the Party
Holiday parties are sure to be full of hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and other tempting treats. “Make sure you eat a healthy dinner at home beforehand to avoid snacking,” Steve Harvey’s trainer explains. “Give your body plant-based nutrition that helps give you energy without breaking your calorie bank.”
2. Don’t Skip Breakfast
Skipping your morning meal does not lead to weight loss. Cruise explains: “By starting your day with a healthy breakfast, you help speed up your metabolism and can curb your cravings in between lunch.”
3. Get Active
It’s tempting to use the holiday season as an excuse to skip the gym as you relax and unwind from a hectic year. But one of the best ways to decompress is to work out, and Cruise’s advice is to support a cause by taking part in a charity fun run. “Challenge your family and friends to join you in a 5K, 10K, or even 15K holiday run. Working towards a goal is a great way to ensure that you stay active during the holidays.”
4. Stay Hydrated
Chances are, you are going to have a holiday cocktail or two. Cruise recommends that you drink one glass of water for every alcoholic drink you have. In addition, he recommends sticking to vodka (lowest in calories) and mixers such as sparkling water, lemon juice, and iced green tea.
5. Sleep More
Cruise recommends getting at least seven hours of sleep a night to maintain a healthy lifestyle. “You won’t lose any weight without enough sleep,” he says. “Sleep will not only help you stay fit this season, it also will help your skin look healthier and have more of a winter glow.”
Cruise’s new book, Tiny and Full, outlines how eating a vegan breakfast each day can provide the health benefits of a full vegan diet. It will be available on Dec. 29, just in time for your New Year’s resolutions!