Five Tips for Healthier Holiday Shopping

Five Tips for Healthier Holiday Shopping

With the holiday season now in full swing, chances are you are probably spending a lot more time at the shopping mall. Even as you brave the crowds — and try to ignore the tempting aromas from the food court — keep in mind there are many ways you can turn your shopping experience into a healthy outing. Try these tips the next time you are mall bound.

1. Plan ahead. Have a low fat healthy meal before you hit the mall so you are not tempted to indulge in the unhealthy choices at the food court. Also, pack easy, portable snacks (such as nuts or some reduced-fat string cheese, or a few dried apricots, a piece of fresh fruit to munch on mid-morning or mid-afternoon.

2. Shop early. Hit the mall early in the morning. Not only will it be less crowded, but you’ll also avoid the tempting smells of lunch at the food court.

3. Work in extra walking. You may have heard me say this before, but I will happily remind you again: Parking in a spot that’s farthest from the mall entrance is a great way to log in extra steps. (Just make sure it’s well lit if you’ll be heading home when it’s dark.) And whenever you can, skip the escalator and elevator in favor of the stairs.

4. Do intervals while you shop. Before you begin shopping or while you’re going from store to store, squeeze in a few intervals of really fast walking. In addition to getting your heart pumping, this will clear your head before diving into the in-store fray.

5. Boost your self-esteem. Most likely your focus is on finding gifts for friends and family, but if you pass a great outfit, I strongly suggest that you try it on in a new smaller size to see just how far you have come along on your weight-loss journey! This will not only boost your self-esteem but also reinforce your commitment to fitness and weight loss as you face the challenges of the holidays.