Toned Up Girls Share Tips for Healthy Holidays

Christmas and New Years Eve are a time for indulging in cocktails and rich foods. But how do you bounce back into your fitness and eating routine once 2014 rolls around? Karena Dawn and Katrina Hodgson, stars of our new series Toned Up (premiering Jan 2 at 10:30/9:30c), reveal their secrets to staying in shape. It turns out there is such a thing as a guilt-free holiday cocktail—and a hangover cure for the next day.

Tips for eating smart over the holidays
The most important thing to keep in mind is to eat healthy throughout the day. Definitely don’t skip meals! Stick to light, protein rich, whole foods all day, and once your get to the party, enjoy yourself! As Katrina says, "You’ve worked too hard to eat an entire plate of cookies, but you’ve worked hard enough that you can enjoy one or two!" A lot of people stress out during this time of year, and it can take away from the fun of the season. Balance is super important, but worrying or feeling guilty about your choices is not helpful. Relax, have fun and stay on track the next day.

Guilt-free cocktail recommendations
We like to stick to clear liquors, wine or champagne. With cocktails, keep it simple with mixers that contain no added sugar, like soda water or a little fresh squeezed juice. Try our Candy Cane Cocktail (1 oz. vodka, splash of soda water, tiny drop of peppermint extract, mini candy cane for garnish; see picture below). Wine spritzers with wine and a splash of flavored bubbly water is also a favorite for us! Remember to always have a glass of water in between every cocktail. Your body will thank you the next day!

Our favorite healthy dish you can prepare for the holidays.
Pumpkin Turkey Chili! It’s a flavorful, satisfying dish that’s always a hit with everyone! Karena loves to make a big pot of chili that you can share with friends and neighbors.  She also likes to add a little cayenne pepper for an extra kick! (recipe below).

Easy exercises you can do when you're away from the gym.
Try a few of the quick move below for arms, back, abs and legs. These are easy to add into a busy day if you don’t have time for a full workout. Arms and back, Legs, abdominals.

Running is also a great and easy way to stay active when you’re out of town, and it’s a fun way to get to know a new area.

You can do most all our workouts on ToneItUp.com or from the Beach Babe DVD at home or while traveling!

If it’s too cold to head outside, try this Hotel Room Workout below:

Is it OK to indulge in dessert at parties?
Yes! Being healthy doesn’t mean depriving yourself of the seasonal treats that only come around once a year! If you’re sticking to your Tone It Up Lifestyle, staying consistent with workouts, you have wiggle room to enjoy yourself and indulge here and there. Be selective of the treats you indulge in, choosing only your very favorite, and enjoy one portion.

What are the best hangover cures for New Years' Day?
Hydrate! The Bounce Back Smoothie and the Tone It Up Detox Juice are two of our personal favorites. The smoothie is great first thing in the morning and green juice is perfect to sip throughout the day, between meals. Focus on enjoying plenty of raw greens, veggies and fruits after an indulgent weekend to help bring back balance to your body.

Turkey Pumpkin Chili Recipe
Makes 8 servings Ingredients

1 1⁄2 Tbs. virgin coconut oil
1 1⁄2 cups onion, chopped
3⁄4 green bell pepper, chopped
3⁄4 yellow bell pepper, chopped
1 1⁄2 cans, 6 oz green chiles, chopped
1 1⁄2 large garlic clove, minced
1 1⁄2 lb. lean ground turkey breast
1 1⁄2 cans, 10-11 oz diced tomatoes
1 1⁄2 cans, 10-11 oz red kidney beans
1 1⁄2 cups canned pumpkin puree
2 1⁄4 Tbs. chili powder
3⁄4 Tbs. cumin
1 tsp. sea salt
1⁄2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1⁄4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
3⁄4 cup Greek yogurt
2 tsp of cinnamon

Directions
First, heat the oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Next, sauté onion, peppers, green chiles, and garlic for about 5 minutes or until tender. Add ground turkey and cook until completely browned. Stir in tomatoes, beans, and pumpkin and bring to a simmer. Season with chili powder, cumin, sea salt, and pepper. Turn heat down to low and continue to let it simmer for 20 minutes. Mix in fresh cilantro and stir in with plain greek yogurt and cinnamon right before serving. Voila! Your pumpkin turkey chili is ready for eight.

You can also make this recipe with leftover turkey, chicken or leave the meat out to make it vegetarian!

What are your secrets for keeping in shape over the holidays? And which of the Toned Up stars' tips are your favorite? Tell us in the comments.