Over the Christmas period, many of us are guilty of losing discipline and abandoning our fitness routines. Fortunately, there are ways to keep healthy while still indulging in festive treats over the holidays. We’ve gathered some simple wellbeing tips to look after your body and mind this Christmas and New Year.

Keep Active

It’s easy to forget about keeping active amongst the mince pie madness. Take a brisk walk every day to keep your body moving without spending too much time away from the festive merriments. You could even bring somebody along for motivation. And if you’re exercising outdoors, make sure to dress warmly. Don’t forget, your body will still deplete electrolytes as your exercise. Keep a fast-rehydration drink like iPRO Sport Edition on hand to restore your electrolyte balance post-workout.

Prioritise Hydration

Alcohol, salty foods, sugary desserts, and late-night coffees - hydration has never been more important than during the festivities. You might be surprised to know that what feels like a hunger pang can actually be a sign of thirst. Drinking before and after eating is an effective way of keeping thoroughly hydrated. Plus, salty foods will help your body to retain those fluids as the sodium binds to water in the body.

Watch Your Alcohol Intake

Not only is Christmas the season of giving - but it’s the season of hangovers, too. For every flute of Champagne you clink, follow it up with a glass of water. Alcohol is a diuretic which means it promotes water loss through urine. Too much alcohol can advance dehydration, particularly when we don’t pace ourselves with hydrating fluids. Top tip: keep a bottle of iPRO’s Healthy Hydration in the fridge to aid a sore head in the morning. The refreshing taste and added electrolytes will revitalise your mood and rehydrate your body.

Practice Mindful Eating

We often seek a dopamine hit from food. And if we don’t enjoy what we’re eating, or we’re eating it mindlessly, we tend to keep on eating until we find something that does give us that pleasure hit. Mindful eating means savouring food in the moment, relishing the taste and texture, and being aware of when you’ve eaten enough. A practical way of trying mindful eating is to choose the foods you really want to eat and pass on others. Don’t forget, there are plenty of nutrient-rich veggies to go alongside the high-calorie foods.

Consider Caloric Balance

Calorie balance simply means the calories we consume equals the calories we burn. On Christmas Day, the average person in Britain consumes about 7000 calories, although many people think they are consuming less than that (source: The School of Health). Of course, Christmas is a time for self-indulgence and treating oneself, so there’s no reason to overly count the calories. Instead, consider caloric balance as a helpful tool for looking after your body. When you know you’ve consumed more calories than usual in one day, try different ways to burn them off, like going for a relaxing walk or an energy-releasing run.

Get Enough Nutrition

Getting enough nutrients equates to maintaining good health. After all, food is fuel, and eating plenty of vegetables, protein, higher fibre foods, and hydrating fluids are essential to optimal wellbeing. Supplements and functional drinks are other accessible sources of nutrients. For instance, iPRO's healthy hydration drinks which are rich in 100% vitamin C with a replenishing constellation of B vitamins.

Healthily celebrate the festivities by drinking more fluids during mealtimes and evenings. Right now, you can purchase a 24-case of iPRO Sport Edition, with the same nutritional goodness, for less than £1 a bottle. Order at iPRO.Direct for free delivery before Christmas!