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12 Tips For a Healthy Christmas Week

Tips for Healthy Christmas WeekWant to avoid looking like Santa this festive season? You’re sailing on eating right and exercising daily, then boom — the holidays are here, just waiting to put a kink in your routine! Food is everywhere. Spare time is nowhere. Add this to the emotions and stress of the season, and you’re sure to have a recipe for disastrous weight gain. Here are some tips to help you stay on course of your health goals and celebrate a Healthy Christmas Week!

Tips For a Healthy Christmas Week 

  1. Quality Over Quantity: Learn to avoid mindlessly accepting whatever is offered and instead hold out for the snack you value the most, and have just a few. If possible, opt for something baked instead of going for something deep-fried.
  2. Eat Slowly. Enjoy. Move away: If your weakness is salted nuts, you can easily eat double the prescribed quantity without noticing. While the fat in nuts is the healthy unsaturated type that doesn’t clog up your arteries, when it comes to your waistline, calories are still calories. Solution? Have a taste, eat it slowly and really enjoy it. “Try to chew your food well, concentrate on the flavour you’re experiencing and appreciate the goodness”. Then, move away from the source so you can’t keep eating more than your fill.
  3. Beware of the Buffet: People often look at a buffet as though it’s their last meal on earth. The smartest thing to do when surrounded by so much temptation is to walk around and eye everything first. Then go back and take a bit of what you really like. Before doing so, ask yourself, “Do I really want this?” Avoid the trap of thinking you have to get your money’s worth. If you don’t let it go to waste, it will end up around your waist.
  4. Watch Your Drinks: Alcohol plays a big part in Christmas weight gain. Sometimes, when surrounded by family and friends, you might not realize when 1 drink turns into 10. Your best bet is to put a cap on the amount of drinks you’ll have. Limit yourself to 3 drinks and space them out. In fact, if you can dilute your drink with water or ice, go for it! Opting to be the nominated driver might just give you the excuse to not drink at all!
  5. Keep Up Some Activity: Did you know that dancing can help you burn off calories. It’s a great way to shake a leg and shake off some extra calories as well. If dancing is not your thing, try brisk walking in the cool early morning breeze. Should work as a good start to the day. Don’t skip a post-dinner stroll with family, friends or your loved one. It can be magical!
  6. Make Sure You Log: Logging food, water intake and exercise can keep you accountable. Don’t look at it as a burden. This will help you stay on track and keep an account of what you’ve been eating and drinking. Be honest and log exactly what you eat!
  7. Earn Your Treats Before You Indulge: Treats aren’t really enjoyable if they leave you feeling guilty afterward. Eat healthy the day before heading out to a holiday party or work up a sweat before sitting down for a big holiday meal. This will help you feel less guilty and enjoy the movement.
  8. Listen to Your Tummy: The human body has an amazing ability to regulate food intake…if we actually listen to it! If you overindulge at a holiday feast, hold off on eating until you truly feel hungry again. Don’t eat just because there’s only one slice of pie left on the table, or because your Christmas Brunch begins at 10 AM. If you’re not hungry, sip on some tea or coffee while everyone else digs in, and make yourself a small plate later. It’ll still be there when your tummy grumbles!
  9. Just Say NO to Food Pushers: Food pushers are the people who seem to believe that their holiday celebration isn’t complete until you give in to their food offerings. You know them — the co-worker with a jar of candies, mom with her apple pie, or the friend who won’t let you leave without a plate of cookies. It’s OK to politely say, “No! Thank you!” It won’t hurt your relationship.
  10. Just Do It: Schedule your exercise time. Not only will you feel better about the indulgences that come with the holidays, but exercise will also will help relieve holiday stress. Take something out of your schedule if you need to, but not exercise. The endorphins from working out will only boost your holiday spirit!
  11. Share the Love: When going to a holiday gathering, bring a healthy dish that everyone can enjoy without feeling guilty.
  12. Snack before the party: Avoid going to holiday parties on an empty stomach. Eat a light and healthy snack, such as one with protein, to keep you feeling full before heading out. This will help you avoid overindulging later. Try a protein bar or some nuts and seeds.

We hope you try these tips and tricks to Level Up your holidays! Here’s to a happy and healthier you! If you’re keen on forming healthier resolutions and need motivation to push you through the coming year, subscribe to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here and get the best advice from a certified expert.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

#BeTheForce 

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8 Reasons Why You Need a Health Coach!

health coachHave you ever taken a year-long subscription to a gym but barely gone twice before you decided to quit? What about one of those fancy weight-loss diets that never helped you cut out junk food? Is binge-watching episode after episode of a thrilling web series while sacrificing sleep a daily routine? The real question is, how many times have you lost motivation while trying to be your own health coach?

On this Teacher’s Day, we celebrate the invaluable role of teachers in shaping our lives. Just like a teacher guides us through our academic journey, a health coach plays a crucial role in guiding us towards a healthier lifestyle. Whether it’s understanding the right food choices, maintaining an exercise routine, or staying motivated, a health coach acts as your personal wellness mentor.

Let’s face it! Most people find it difficult to stick to a routine. Even if you do find the time to squeeze in a workout, are you doing it right? Are you eating the right food for your body type? Is your dietary intake in line with your health goals? There are many questions, and more often than not, being your own health coach can backfire in more ways than one.

This is where you need a health coach. A health coach is like a teacher who guides you in the right direction by helping you make decisions about the right food and exercise. Having a health coach not only keeps you accountable but also keeps you motivated!

8 Reasons Why You Need A Health Coach

  1. Discover Natural Remedies: Having a health coach who knows what they are talking about can help you understand symptoms of a sickness and guide you with natural healing options. Imagine if the contents available in your kitchen and normal food can heal you, wouldn’t you want to know?
  2. A Health Coach Is Your Friend: Life is increasingly fast-paced and monotonous. It is difficult to find someone who is willing to listen to you and your problems. This kind of isolation and lack of communication can eventually lead to increased stress levels. If you have a health coach, they are always there to listen to your issues and is well trained to counsel you in that particular situation. The coach, in this sense, is your buddy – ready to listen to your woes, ask the appropriate questions, help you identify the root cause for your concerns, and assist  you in resolving them.
  3. Responsible and Accountability: Research shows that 80% of the people who make health resolution on New Year’s, break them within 2-3 months. With a bit of self-motivation, you can stick to your plans 1-2 or 3 months at best, but after that, you tend to go off track. Now, if you have a health coach, you will be answerable to that person, which in turn, will help you stick to your resolutions for a long time and eventually achieve your goals.
  4. Help You Understand Your Body: Leading an unhealthy lifestyle can be costly! Weight gain, loss of stamina, and a weak immune system are just some of the consequences. Imagine getting active and following a great diet plan, but it doesn’t work for you! This is where a coach comes in and helps you identify the reason. It might be your body type requiring a different approach.
  5. Increase Your Knowledge: All the nutritional tips, exercise routines, and even techniques to sleep better can enable you to manage a healthy life on your own for years to come. Getting the right knowledge to manage your lifestyle is a gift that you can share as well. Knowledge is power, and a health coach gives you the power to live an active, healthy, and happy life!
  6. Setting Realistic Goals: We always set goals without knowing whether we will be able to achieve them or not. For instance, setting a target of losing 30 kg in 2 months is not realistic. Can you achieve this goal with your current lifestyle? A coach can counsel you on setting more realistic and achievable targets based on your daily routine. Setting small targets to achieve a long-term goal is what a coach can bring to the table.
  7. Problem Solver: Can’t stop that sugar or pizza craving? Got a headache? A hangover maybe? Don’t know what mid-meal you should eat? Is whole wheat bread good for you? You just ate a cupcake! What should you do? Your coach will always be by your side to answer these questions, assist and guide you through all your problems!
  8. Authentic Source of Knowledge: There is a rising trend of fake health news on the internet which can be extremely dangerous! These fake health tips coax people into trying ridiculous things like eating banana peels or following something like beer yoga! Your expert coach can guide you with proper factual information and keep you from making mistakes that can harm you!

Most importantly, a health coach can motivate and push you to achieve your goals!

As we honor the teachers who’ve made a difference in our lives, let’s also recognize the importance of having a guide for our health journey. A health coach not only educates and motivates but also empowers you to lead a healthier, happier life. This Teacher’s Day, take the first step towards positive change by subscribing to Personalised Health Coaching with GOQii.

We hope this article helps you understand the value of a health coach! Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. For more insights into health and wellness, check out our other articles in Healthy Reads.

To get personalized advice and tips from your GOQii Coach, subscribe to Personalised Health Coaching here

#BeTheForce

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Strength Training Benefits For Aging Bodies

strength trainingStrength training is essential for everyone, serving not just to enhance muscle strength but also to bolster overall health regardless of age. Whether you are 25 or 65, incorporating some form of strength training into your daily routine is beneficial, though the specifics of the exercises may vary depending on one’s age group.

In this blog post, I will discuss the changes that begin to occur in our bodies as we enter our thirties and forties—changes that are often less than welcome. More importantly, I’ll explore how strength training plays a crucial role in counteracting these changes and significantly enhancing the quality of our lives.

I have experienced the positive changes, that my body has undergone over the last 4-5 years, just by incorporating a strength training routine in the form of workouts with weights, and using my own body weight, as I do in my yoga practice. One can even use resistance bands, the various gym equipment, or own body weight for resistance, by doing push-ups, pull-ups, crunches, leg squats or push-ups against a wall etc.

What Happens As We Age?

The human body goes through changes as we age, and some of the effects are obvious, as we cross middle age. Even healthy, normal ageing includes:

  • A Slower metabolism
  • Decreased muscle mass and strength
  • Increased body fat
  • Reduced bone density
  • Increased bone porosity
  • Stiff joints
  • Slower reflexes and reaction times
  • Decreased aerobic capacity

These are normal changes that we may experience as we age, though the severity varies from person to person. One of the most important reasons to exercise, and specifically include strength training, is to slow and minimize these changes.  

Benefits of Strength Training

1. Increases Muscle Mass
As you age, muscle mass gradually decreases – a condition known as Sarcopenia. Individuals who are less active can expect to lose between 3% to 5% of their muscle mass each decade after turning 30, with this rate accelerating after age 65. By age of 70, the average adult may have lost up to 25% of their muscle mass primarily due to disuse and inactivity. However, this loss isn’t irreversible. Engaging in any form of exercise can help regain muscle mass and strength, but weight lifting, strength training, and resistance training are particularly effective. Research shows that after just six months of strength training twice a week, the biochemical, physiological, and genetic characteristics of older muscles can be rejuvenated by nearly 15 to 20 years.

2. Improves Bone Health
Bone fractures and breaks are quite prevalent among older adults due to decreased bone density and osteoporosis. While there are various causes of osteoporosis that may require medical intervention, substantial evidence suggests that exercise can significantly enhance bone density. Moreover, osteoporosis can be both prevented and managed through strength training. Just as muscles grow stronger with activity, bones also gain strength when engaged in physical exercise. Weight-bearing exercises, in particular, bolster bone health by stimulating the production of new cells.

3. Improves Functional Ability/Movement
Increasing strength through training is crucial for enhancing everyday functionality. Regular strength training enables older adults to enhance their mobility, walk longer distances, and potentially decrease their reliance on assistive devices such as canes and walkers.

Additionally, building strength supports a variety of functional movements, including walking, sitting down and standing up from chairs or beds, climbing stairs or escalators, and carrying groceries. These improvements in physical capabilities make daily life more manageable and empower individuals to engage in a wider range of activities that they desire to pursue.

4. Increases Metabolism
Strength training is highly effective for enhancing your metabolism, which is the rate at which your body burns calories while at rest. Engaging in strength training causes your body to require more energy based on the intensity of the exercise. This not only leads to calories being burned during the workout but also increases calorie burn after the workout as your body returns to a resting state. Additionally, hormones like Testosterone and DHEA, which are vital for strength and energy, naturally decrease with age. However, regular strength training can significantly boost these hormone levels within 8-12 weeks.

5. Improves Brain Health
Aging can increase the risk of loneliness, social isolation, depression, and other mental health challenges. However, building strength enhances mobility and functionality, which can significantly improve overall health, elevate mood, and enhance the quality of life. Additionally, resistance training has been shown to slow cognitive decline associated with aging. Studies indicate that lifting weights can improve memory, attention span, and conflict resolution skills.

6. Improves Health Conditions
Type 2 Diabetes: Strength training effectively lowers blood sugar levels and enhances insulin sensitivity. This improvement helps facilitate the transport of blood sugar into cells, thereby optimizing how the body utilizes glucose.

Cardiovascular Health: When properly executed, strength training benefits both the muscular and cardiovascular systems. Strengthened muscles reduce the workload on the heart, enabling the lungs to process oxygen more efficiently with less effort. This efficiency leads to the heart pumping more blood with fewer beats, which in turn increases the blood supply to the muscles.

How Often Should You Do It? 

It is recommended to engage in strength training three to five times per week for 20 to 30 minutes at a moderate intensity or two to three times per week for 15 to 20 minutes at a high intensity. However, always consult your doctor before starting any workout regimen, particularly if you have any pre-existing medical conditions, and seek professional guidance to ensure the correct technique. This helps in preventing injuries and maximizing the benefits of your workouts, especially when focusing on larger muscle groups which offer greater returns.

Let’s move beyond using age as an excuse and start prioritizing muscle health to enhance both our physical health and psychological well-being!

We hope this article helps you care for your muscles a little more and helps you improve your physical and psychological well-being as well. If you’re about to begin your strength training routine or need help, speak to a certified expert by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

Want to explore more articles on fitness? Click here.

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The Joy Of Complaining

The joy of complaining

I have grown up to believe that happy couples do not fight, do not complain, and most of my life in almost all of my relationships, I have borne the brunt of this misconception. In my marriage, when differences accrued I thought it’s over, other than that it had become stale. Until recently, I carried this belief or rather misbelief cursing myself for complaining, regretting that why I could not compromise enough, adjusted enough since I was made to feel guilty for my disagreements. I agree, sometimes I went all ballistic, hurting the man for paltry reasons and those incidents could have been avoided. But to say one cannot complain at all is idealism!

Complaining is Healthy! Complaining is Juicy! Complaining is Catharsis!

You’re allowed to complain; it feels good sometimes! We can’t be grateful all the time. Gratitude is deeply important and healing, but we also have to make room for complaints. There’s a reason we have ten words for “complaining” in Yiddish. It’s a valve release. It’s a way to still feel like you have a say over your life when you don’t control squat. 

But a lot of us try to control our urge to complain about the fear of starting an argument. But holding in our relationship dissatisfactions over time creates a build-up of frustration and resentment that is toxic to our relationship. And then, when we finally do blurt out our complaints we do so in tones and words that are too harsh for our partner to absorb, leading them to become defensive and angry, a response that only convinces us to continue holding back our relationship-related complaints going forward, creating even more frustration, resentment, and negativity in our relationship.

To avoid this vicious cycle – to hold back – explode – backfire – hold back again, we should not stop complaining but instead, learn the art of complaining. Yes! We can be grateful and complain. We can be accountable and slack off. We can be peaceful and loving and we can talk shit and blow off steam. Complaining is a survival tool. Use it wisely. It will help us cope during the uneven phases of relationships. Complaining is juicy. So make your complaints good.

Complaint Sandwich – The Tool For Complaining The Right Way! 

We all love sandwiches right! How about turning your complaint into a delicious homemade grilled cheese sandwich? 

  • The first slice of bread in the Complaint Sandwich is a positive statement called The Ear Opener. Its goal is to lower the recipient’s defensiveness and allow them to absorb the complaint to follow.
  • The filling of the Complaint Sandwich is the actual complaint. The ‘filling’ should be lean like a slice—that is, keep it to a single incident and single complaint.
  • The second slice of bread in the Complaint Sandwich is another positive statement called The Digestive. Its goal is to motivate the recipient to respond positively to our complaint by assuring them that this complaint is for the betterment of our relationship, for the betterment of us.

Okay, you got the complaint sandwich ready, but do not spoil it by serving these small mistakes alongside it. There are reasons our complaints don’t get us what we want. We don’t think about what we want to achieve.

We complain because we want something, right? So before complaining, take 5 deep breaths, pause and think through what it is we want to achieve before we speak up. Figuring out what we want might be obvious when we call a customer service executive to remove a late charge on our credit card. It’s much less obvious when we’re complaining to our spouse/ partner. Take a moment to figure out what will make you feel satisfied through complaining.

We Allow Anger To Distract Us From Our Message

We usually complain when we are frustrated, hurt, or irritated. Feeling angry is fine if we are in control of our emotions and communicate reasonably. But when our voice gets too loud, our tone too harsh, or when we start cursing and accusing, the recipient’s attention will go to our anger and not to our actual message. As a result, we are more likely to encounter a counter-argument or resistance than a satisfactory resolution.

We Include More Than One Complaint At A Time

Hearing complaints always makes people defensive, so we have to voice our problems in ways that do not overwhelm them. It is far more effective to voice one complaint and get a result than to voice three and get nowhere. Tempting as it might be to air all your accumulated irritations at once, don’t! It doesn’t work.

We Don’t Complain To The Right Person

Surprisingly, we rarely voice our complaints to the person who can actually do something about them. We vent to our friends about our partner. If a complaint really irritates us, we owe it to our own peace of mind to address it to the person who can do something about it.

Make Your Complaint As Specific As Possible

Do not generalize it into a criticism. Complaining is about a situation, criticism is an ad nauseum attached on the character of the person. For example, “You forgot to call my sister this evening” will make the same point and be far easier for your partner to hear than “You said that you will speak to my sister but you never give any importance to my feelings”.

Remember!

Make space for other people to vent aloud. It often expresses their feelings of loss and longing. They know that they are powerless and they have to accept the situation; venting gives them the illusion that they have a say. It’s best to just let it pass and not try to reason with it.

We hope this article helps you to complain and heal your relationship the right way! Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more articles by our Sexual Wellness Expert Pallavi Barnwal, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to her sessions on GOQii Play.

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From Terminal Illness To Complete Wellness! Ananda Mukherjee Health Story

As we observe World Cancer Day under the powerful theme ‘United by Unique’ (2025-2027)**, we are reminded that every individual’s journey with cancer is distinct, yet united by shared resilience, hope, and the collective fight against this disease. This theme places people at the centre of care and their stories at the heart of the […]