Merritt Clubs Blog

This is the joyful season, that time of year when we’re supposed to be happy, giving, and thankful. But hosting guests or traveling and being a guest in someone’s home for any length of time can cause the opposite reaction. If you’re hosting, getting the house ready, maintaining it in guest-ready condition for the duration of the visit, preparing holiday (and other) meals, and keeping the guests entertained can all be stress and anxiety inducing. If you’re traveling, you may be eating unfamiliar foods, sleeping in uncomfortable beds, and keeping irregular hours. Before your eye starts twitching uncontrollably, take a look at these tips for surviving your role as either a host or guest.

You don’t have to look far during this time of year to find highly-caloric and highly-delicious treats all around. At work, at home, at your friends’ and families’ homes, you’re sure to find platters stocked high with cookies, pies, and other tempting treats that will have you diving in face first and leading to that overly stuffed, uncomfortable, gotta-put-on-sweatpants feeling. If you take a moment now to step back and reflect on what the holidays are truly about (read: friends and family) and to focus on your goals, you’ll cruise into the new year feeling great both physically and mentally.

Thanksgiving is next week! It’s hard to believe. It seems like Halloween was just a couple of weeks ago and now we’re gearing up for the December holiday season. People are already having a tough time getting to the Club to workout. It’s cold. It’s dark early. It’s been raining for months. We’re all tired and stressed. And did I mention it’s cold, it’s dark early, it’s been raining for months? How are we to cope with the upcoming holidays while maintain our healthy lifestyles? Below are some strategies that will keep you active through the holidays and into the winter months.

The 4^th of July is one of our favorite holidays. Barbecue, beer, and beautiful weather make for the perfect day spent with friends and family, but also the perfect opportunity for a diet disaster. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with our top five tips for staying healthy this 4^th of July, and for future barbecues this summer!

We all know about Thanksgivings “Battle of the Bulge” but do we know how to fight it? Here are a few tips to help us fight this enemy as Thanksgiving draws closer…

24 hours before Thanksgiving: Hit the gym. Skip your normal routine and just focus on doing cardio instead.

16 hours before Thanksgiving: Get a good night of sleep. Stay away from bar-hopping with your friends and hit the bed early. Our body burns fat much easier when we are well rested.

6 hours to Thanksgiving Dinner: Eat a good healthy, hearty breakfast. Don’t starve your body while you prep for the big meal. Your body needs a jump start in the morning or your blood sugar and insulin levels will fall.

3 hours to Thanksgiving Dinner: Don’t just sit around and watch football with your family, get out and play a game of football together. This will allow you to burn calories before your big meal.

2 hours to Thanksgiving Dinner: Grab a few apples that contain their peel and eat them as a quick snack. Apple peels contain a compound that can help curb an out of control appetite.

Thanksgiving Dinner: It is finally here!!! Don’t just throw food down your face J Take time to socialize with your company and enjoy what you are eating. This will allow your body to feel fuller faster.

I hope these tips will help you as you prepare for the big Turkey Day Meal. Have a safe and happy holiday!

Written By: Maria Miller