Ahh the holiday season is here! 5 full weeks of love and laughter and happiness…and food. Lots of food. Lets face it, Thanksgiving is an entire day of eating! Christmas is chock full of sweets and dare-I-eat-it treats. Increased amounts of food and alcohol you don’t regularly incorporate into your diet is going to leave you feeling like crap. I don’t know how you all feel, physically unmotivated and mentally foggy describe my holiday bloat. Alright maybe I’m being a bit dramatic, but this month span of indulging can take its toll on your fitness goals.

Here’s how to bounce back after the beautiful Holidays!

Hydrate.

As a self-proclaimed water loving ambassador, this is naturally first on my tip list. Chances are high that what you’re treating yourself with is stacked with processed sugars. These need to be flushed out of your system, so increase your water intake. Also increasing satiety (or, fullness), water improves the look of your skin and mentalfunctioning.

♥Fit tip: Try for at least half of your body weight in ounces of water a day.

Drop the processed foods.

If you’re having a craving, acknowledge it in moderation. But if you’re drinking enough water and consuming foods that are actual fuel for your  body, I bet you won’t even look twice at that caramel popcorn. Eat whole, raw foods. Egg white veggie omelets for breakfast, skip the bread. Fresh greens and a lean or vegetarian protein for lunch and dinner, the more colorful the better. Fruits and nuts or snacks, skip the chocolate covered-ness.

♥Fit tip: Trick your mind into thinking ou’re having something sweet by garnishing with cinnamon, your body thanks you.

Get your workout in.

Whether you have 10 minutes or 5 hours of free time a day during the holidays, squeeze in some physical activity. Avoid eating out of boredom and drop into some pushups or bodyweight squats when you’re having a craving. Clear your mind with some hot yoga, go for a winter walk with a friend, see if local gyms are aving holiday promotions ($$ saver); just move.

Sleep.

When possible, sleep without an alarm in place. Allow your body to wake up naturally, it knows when you’ve had enough rest. Aim for at least 6 hours, ideally 8, of sleep a night. Digestion, especially of holiday sweets, is an exhausting process for the human body. Put the electronics down and grab a book, meditate for a few minutes, or try writing out goals for your next day. Give it the rest it deserves by unwinding before sleep.