How to Stay on Track Over the Holidays

It's hard to believe that it's already November! I know I say that every season but it's true. I feel like yesterday was June! The question that always comes up this time of year is "How Do I Stay on Track During the Holidays?". The answer is actually quite simple - we suggest that you try and keep your routine as normal as possible. We know the holidays are filled with food, family, friends, parties, shopping, etc. We want you to enjoy the holidays but also keep your sanity and avoid the dreaded holiday weight gain. One of the most important things to remember is that this is YOUR life. If you want to eat the piece of Red Velvet Cake - eat it! But don't eat it just because someone is pressuring you to!

We are sharing some of our best tips below and we also have some BIG NEWS too!

How to Stay on Track Over the Holidays

• Don't Skip Meals - A BIG mistake people make is skipping meals. It seems to be an even bigger issue over the holidays. Whether it's intentional (thinking that you will "save" calories) or if you just get busy and forget to eat, this cycle will lead you to over-indulging. Stick with your normal eating schedule and don't let yourself get too hungry. Pack your food or at least take protein bars or protein powder packets with you while you are out. Going to a party? Take something with you to share!
   
• Stick with Your Routine - Write down all of your commitments (parties, shopping, etc.) on a calendar ahead of time. After you have all of your commitments written down schedule your workouts for the days that you have free.
   
• Make Time for Food Prep - Your crock pot will be your best friend over the next few months. It seriously only takes a few seconds to throw some stuff in a crock pot and you can have a full meal waiting on you when you are ready. Continuing to do food prep will be a life saver for you! It's amazing what doing one small thing to stay in a routine will do for your motivation!
   
• Start/Continue with a Detailed Workout Plan - Having a workout plan in place will take any guesswork out of the equation and save you time trying to come up with workouts on your own. You could start any of our workout plans but our Busy Body 4-Week Workout Plan is great for this time of year. You will only spend 3 days a week in the gym (or your home workout space) for 40 minutes or less! Even if you can't workout for 40 minutes, we have a solution - simply eliminate the suggested cardio at the end and be on your way in 20-25 minutes!

Exciting H&S News

We are releasing our very first cookbook and it's FREE!

This cookbook is called Fit Festive Foods and includes the recipes listed below. We will also be releasing a series of cookbooks next year, the first one will be crock pot recipes! We are so excited to be working with Kenzie from Hettman Homestead to bring you these cookbooks!

UPDATE: The FREE cookbook is now available! You can learn more here! Also feel free to fill out this form if you would like to let us know what you are looking for in future cookbooks!

Fit Festive Foods

• Sugar Cookies
• Gingerbread Muffins
• Gingerbread Smoothie
• Cranberry Sauce
• Pomegranate Mojito
• Cherry Almond Shooter

We also have our Free Healthy Living Challenge that will be continued through the holiday season. You will have fun challenges each day, get a "behind the scenes" look at what we eat and what our routines look like, and receive support from numerous coaches and trainers! Click here to sign up for the FREE Challenge!

We also will be starting another 21 Day Challenge! Get a jump start on your goals before the new year! Click here to receive more information.

Why join the 21 Day Challenge?

• Lose weight
• Peer Support
• Boost your metabolism 
• Kick your cravings
• Bust out of your plateau

30-Day Turkey Trot Challenge

WANT A FREE HIIT EBOOK?

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Note: We're on Snapchat! You can find us under hesheeatclean. We will be posting more of our meals, workouts, and money saving tips! Also, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter!

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We've had a ton of different challenges before but we've never had a run/walk challenge! I wanted to do one this month since most of us tend to fall of the cardio bandwagon this time of year - which also coincides with the time that we indulge in more treats than usual! Let's keep our cardio game going with this 30-day challenge. You can run, you can walk, you can hike, or you can do a combo - just get it done! I also suggest that instead of just running you try to mix it up. Some ideas are sprints (30 seconds on - 30 seconds off, etc), incline training, or a combination of both (check out our cardio/HIIT routines for ideas).

Remember, this shouldn't be your only workout - you still need to keep up your weight lifting! We have 4, 6, and 12-week workout plans for all fitness levels! Use one of our workout plans, our 4-Week Busy Body Plan would be perfect this time of year! You can read all about those here.

Follow us on Instagram (heandsheeatclean) - we would love to see you trotting - use the hashtag #heandsheeatclean.

This isn't the only challenge we are introducing though! We are going to have our Healthy Living Challenge {Holiday Edition}! This is another completely FREE challenge to join where you will have the support of numerous trainers and coaches to help you stay on track over the holiday season! (If you are already in the Healthy Living Challenge Group on Facebook you do not have to request to join again!)

Looking for a little bit more of a challenge this month? Pair this with one of our workout plans & our Turkey Tone It Up Challenge!

Apple Pie Protein Squares

I am so excited that one of my best friends (that lives on the other side of the country) is finally sharing one of her awesome recipes! We've only known each other a few years but clicked instantly when we met. We actually met when I flew out to San Diego for a training and also hosted a Wellness 101 event that she came to! We have so much in common...mainly minimalism and hiking. ;-) She flew out to GA this past August to attend a training for our business so we got to catch up and hike together (below is a picture of us on top of Yonah Mountain in GA that I posted on Instagram)! You will love her and this recipe!

Kenzie and I wrote a "Baby Eats Clean" eCookbook and a Crock Pot Breakfast eCookbook together!

From Kenzie: Hey there He and She Eat Clean readers! Kenzie here from HettmanHomestead.com!

I wanted to share a recipe that our whole family loves to eat during the holidays. My two little kids even think it's a treat! (I love when that happens.) Before I tell you about the protein bars, I wanted to make a confession... I'm all about that apple pie. That pumpkin pie. And any pie really. Unfortunately, I know I can't just eat pie all winter (sigh), so I like to create healthy recipes that do the trick. These protein bars are guilt-free even though it tastes like you're indulging in a slice of apple pie. Not only do these protein bars taste just like apple pie, you only need 6 ingredients, one bowl, and 10 minutes to make them! I got your back. The holiday season is hectic and you don't have time to be Martha Stewart. I know the struggle. ;) 

Clean Eat Recipe: Apple Pie Protein Squares

Ingredients 

• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup 
• 1/4 cup cashew butter or almond butter 
• 1 TBSP ground cinnamon 
• 2 cups oat flour (plus more for dusting) 
• 1/3 cup vanilla protein powder

Method

• Combine applesauce, maple syrup. cashew butter, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. Dump flour and protein powder on top of the wet ingredients, then stir together until just mixed. 
• Dust a cutting board with oat flour and roll the dough in the flour. Work the dough until it's no longer sticky. Finally, roll the dough into a ball and place the dough in a square baking dish.
• Flatten the dough evenly until it fills the baking dish, cover, then refrigerate for an hour or so.
• Remove from the refrigerator after it has set and cut into squares. 

We usually cut ours into 9 squares.

Tip: Store in the refrigerator to maintain freshness. 

Be sure to subscribe to Kenzie's email updates and catch up with her on the web, Instagram and Pinterest!