Congratulations! You’ve been so conscientious about eating healthy and staying in shape during the summer months. But we’re getting close to October, which means retail stores will (much too early) put up their holiday décor and, before we know it, we’ll be headed out to holiday gatherings. The storage unit experts at Hollywood Storage Center of Thousand Oaks has come up with some strategies to keep us on a healthy track through the end of 2019.

Step 1 – Move More

Considering holiday yummies are so tempting, adding in exercises that will burn an extra 300 calories each week to your current workout plan is a good start. What burns 300 calories? Try one of these:

• Jump rope for 35 minutes.
• Boogie down for 40 minutes.
• Swim laps for 30 minutes.
• Take the stairs for a total of 30 minutes.
• Rock climb for 30 minutes. (Try Boulderdash in Westlake Village.)
• Hit the rowing machine at the gym for 30 minutes.
• Play tennis for 50 minutes. (Check out the public courts in Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park.)
• Kick box for 20 minutes.
• Clean your house (robustly) for 1 hour.

If you’re looking for more space in your home, packing up boxes burns 222 calories an hour and moving furniture burns 381. Don’t forget Hollywood Storage Center if you need a place to store your items!

Step 2 – Shop Well for Yourself

Before heading out to the grocery store, take inventory of what you have. If your pantry is stocked with chips and sugary snacks, you’re going to have a much harder time keeping your calorie consumption in check. Purge the bad stuff and replace it with healthy snacks like edamame, popcorn (without butter), baby carrots and dried, unsweetened coconut.

Step 3 – Cut Calories at Home

Would it be possible to cut out 50 calories from your breakfast and another 50 from your lunch, just through the end of the year? It’s not that hard if you put your mind to it. For instance, if you eat two eggs each morning, substitute one egg and two egg whites. That’s 44 calories right there! Here are some other quick ways to cut 50 calories from your breakfast or lunch:

• Swap out your breakfast granola for steel cut oats.
• Select a super soup. Broth-based minestrone can contain hundreds of fewer calories than a heavy cream soup such as tomato-basil.
• Skip the mayo on your lunch sandwich. One tablespoon adds 57 calories.
• Go cheese-free on your sandwich too. One slice will add 50+ calories.
• Choose an apple to replace your chips. One small apple has 100 fewer calories than 1 ounce of potato chips.

Step 4 – Rethink Baking

We understand about traditions but baking holiday sweets is one that is full of challenges when it comes to staying on track. It’s just too much torture to bake and not partake. Or, if you just can’t stand it, find a healthier option such as these Mini Date-Nut Snowballs.

Step 5 – Create a Party Survival Plan

Putting a little thought into your wellness prior to the party is key. Create your own party survival plan using some of these ideas:

• Eat something low calorie and filling prior to the party.
• Before loading your plate, scan the options and make good choices.
• Bring a healthy dish that you’ll feel good about eating.
• Skip dessert.
• Socialize away from the kitchen.
• Drink water or a lighter cocktail option such as champagne.
• Wait until an hour into the party to eat and drink.
• Head home earlier than normal.
• Stick to one serving of food – on a small plate.

Now you’re ready to frolic in the festivities without packing on the pounds! And that will really make it “the most wonderful time of the year” as the song goes.