With Christmas just 3 days away, I can’t be the only one who’s running around getting last minute gifts, baking, wrapping and just otherwise keeping quite busy. But I made a promise to myself this year to not let the stress of the season get to me, and I have to say that, all in all, I’ve kept that promise. My plan:

1. Work out at least 10 minutes a day, even if it’s a quick yoga routine. Mornings are a great time to get this daily energy booster in.

2. Eat well, and bring healthy snacks for “on the go” Christmas shopping (some of my faves right now – walnuts, almonds, dried or whole fruit). And I always start the day with a filling, wholesome breakfast, and I recommend my clients do the same. Refined carbs in the morning = crashing, unhealthy cravings and maybe even binges later on. And none of that’s gonna help you get all that shopping/wrapping/baking done…

3. Do a little each day, and stop when I feel stress coming on. Sometimes this means leaving a gift half wrapped until later that day or the next. Sometimes it means my Christmas cards get out a little late (oops!). But it also means learning that not every “chore” in life is urgent, and that forgiving yourself for not being perfect is an important skill to learn…for the holidays and the rest of the year.

4. Preparation is key for holiday survival. For those who know me, cooking and baking are not my favorite things. In fact, they’re just plain daunting. So, it’s not unusual for me to shop one day, prep vegetables and fruits the next (chopping things ahead of time saves a lot of time day-of), and making the dish the next. Crazy, I know…but there’s a lot less complaining all around when I break up tasks like this. And notice, I said vegetables and fruits…I always recommend bringing one healthy dish for each unhealthy one you prepare. So, if you’re making those famous Christmas cookies of yours, try a fruit salad or healthy appetizer too.

This is the first year in a long time that I’ve felt so stress-free on December 22nd. And I’m really quite a fan of this feeling. It’s a busy time of year, for sure, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. I’m a big advocate of finding balance in life, and if you can do this the week of Christmas, you’re off to a great start for the New Year!

Wishing all of my family, friends and clients a joyous holiday season and a happy, healthy New Year!!!

With warmest wishes, 

Jess

I’m not one who likes to grocery shop (just ask my husband, poor guy!), but I felt inspired today to use up all the coupons that I’ve been collecting the last month, and maybe to have something other than PB+J for dinner. So, my husband and I ventured out on this Saturday morning to stock our shelves, freezer and fridge. Our challenge: spend at least $120 on food, so that we can get $30 off in coupons and not have to “bulk shop” again during the next few busy weeks of holiday prep. For those of you who shop often, this seems like no challenge at all, right?? In fact, I expected that we would meet the $120 goal, and surpass it, in no time at all. Boy, was I wrong…

30 minutes and $25 dollars in, we hadn’t even left the produce section yet. We had at least 2 of our reusable shopping bags full of fruits and vegetables for lunches and dinners for the next week or two, including plans for lots of leftovers and quick meals. At this point, though, we hadn’t spent much money yet, and I was starting to panic that I’d be stuck in the grocery store all day. But, we soon found out that, after filling up on whole foods, we really didn’t need to spend much more time shopping. A quick stop in the dairy aisle for yogurt, milk and cheese, and then onto the meat section for our lean chicken, pork and ground turkey. After stocking up on plenty of the lean meats, we still had only reached $70. Now what?

Lucky for us, we don’t buy many processed foods at all. In fact, one loaf of 100% whole wheat bread was the only processed food we bought, and that was on sale for $1.50. But now we were only at $71.50. So, we decided to stock up on some brown rice, spices, diced tomatoes (no salt added, of course!). This went on for a while more, with the moral of the story being that we had a lot of trouble finding enough food that we needed, or spending enough money. Crazy right?? For those who are wondering, we finally met our limit by buying some ingredients for an upcoming cocktail party we’ll be making appetizers for, as well as stocking up on some whole, raw nuts for snacking. Our final total: $107 dollars for well over 2 weeks worth of meat, potatoes, fruit, veggies, nuts, yogurt and extras. Without buying processed foods!

I was inspired to share this mundane (and most likely boring) story in this blog because grocery shopping is something that many of my clients struggle with. It’s expensive, it’s stressful, and it’s often hard to buy healthy items within a budget. Or so we think. But, my experience today reminded me that it is entirely possible to shop for a family, on a budget, and still buy healthy foods. It is not true that produce is more expensive than processed snacks. It is cheaper to buy oatmeal and fruit than processed cereals and bagels for breakfast. It is cheaper to take leftovers for lunch than frozen meals (even the “healthy” ones). It is reasonable to have fruit, nuts or yogurt for snacks, and cheaper in the long run than buying cookies, crackers or chips. Whole potatoes are cheaper than boxed versions of potatoes, rice or pasta sides, and much healthier.

So, the next time you drag yourself to the grocery store, remember to spend your time in the perimeter of the store, and skip the inner aisles all together, if possible. Or make a list of items you may need in those aisles, and don’t browse anything outside of those items. Get in this habit, and I promise you will save money and start eating more healthfully. Maybe you’ll even start looking forward to grocery shopping (though I’m not counting on this one for myself…)

Having just returned from an early morning walk, I’m feeling inspired to write about how awesome the fall is for finding fun opportunities to engage in exercise in the beautiful New England Weather! Every weekend this month, my husband and I have decided to spend most of our weekend days outside, hiking in the White Mountains or the much more convenient Blue Hills area, and we are both happier people because of it. There’s truly something about the crisp fall air, sounds of leaves rustling, and calm feeling that surrounds us when we’re hiking, and I notice that a nice Sunday hike sets the stage for a much more relaxing work week for both of us.Now, I’ve been a trainer for years, and no matter where I’m working or who I’m working with, I’ve heard over and over that having a family and career do take away from time to exercise. I completely agree that it’s a struggle, which is why I encourage my clients to incorporate family time on the weekends to get outside and get active! Here are my top ten ideas for fall fitness, perfect for busy families:

1. Kids have a play date on Saturday? Walk them there, or arrange to meet in the local park. And don’t just sit on the bench…take at least 10 minutes to swing, jump on the slides or throw around the football. Believe me…your kids will love to see you engaging in an active way, instead of watching from afar.

2. Get ahead of those falling leaves! Take an hour on a Saturday afternoon or early evening before dinner and start raking. Have the kids help…or at least get in a few minutes of jumping in the leaf piles when you’re finished. You’ll save money on having someone else do it, and get in a good arm workout while you’re at it.

3. Vow to spend 1-2 hours outside on Saturday or Sunday, as a family. Walk a nearby trail, do a short hike, or go on a family bike ride around the neighborhood. It’s important for kids to learn how to occupy periods of time outdoors…and without their electronic devices.

4. Sign up for a local 5 K. Walk or run. Get the kids, neighbors, co-workers or other family members involved. Feel good about helping a charity and getting a workout in at the same time.

5. Go apple picking! Walking, bending, reaching, and carrying bags of apples…there’s all kinds of activity to incorporate…just make sure to find some healthy recipes to make with all those apples!

6. Halloween is coming. If your kids are going to go trick-or-treating, start early and walk. Around Boston, I don’t see this as much, but growing up in Connecticut, I remember lots of parents driving their kids from house to house. I understand that it can get dark early by the end of October, but travel in groups, stay in your neighborhood, and make sure the kids don’t get too far ahead. But do give them the chance to walk…it’s just not the same experience in a car.

7. Do the kids have a football game or practice on Saturday? While you may feel obligated to stay and watch, remember that your health is a priority too. Take 30 minutes of that 90 minute practice to walk or jog around a nearby track. You’ll be back to see most of the game, but you’ll feel much more accomplished than if  you sat on the bleachers the whole time.

8. Pack lunches the night before school and work, and dedicate that 10-15 minutes in the morning to go for a quick jog before the kids wake up. The fall is a perfect time for running! If there’s no one to watch the kids, do a 10 minute yoga DVD instead. For most people, the reality is that working out at night, after you make dinner, clean up, help the kids with their home work and get them to bed, just doesn’t happen. Plus, starting off your work day with a quick workout will make you feel more energized and productive throughout your day…I promise.

9. Use time at family get-togethers to get everyone outside. In my family, we like to take walks after Sunday dinners, or after our Thanksgiving dinner. Sometimes it can be hard to get moving, but everyone is always grateful for the walk once we’ve made it off the couch.

10.  Don’t just watch football all day on Sunday. Take the kids outside at half-time to play some football yourselves. Kids really do emulate their parents, so if you don’t want to see your kids sitting in front of the TV for 4 hours at a time, don’t do it yourself! Incorporate brief bursts of physical activities during the commercials (push-up challenge, anyone?), and play outside with them at half-time.

These are just some ideas, but be creative and enjoy the outdoors while you can. Winter is long in New England, and fall is our season. It’d be a shame to spend it sitting inside. So throw on that hoodie, pull the kids away from their devices, and get outside! Just hurry up…kick off starts at 1:00.