Ask An Expert: Fitness Guru Stephanie Mansour's 2019 Health Tips

Everyone knows that the holidays are a season of giving — but it's no secret that sometimes we tend to spread ourselves too thin, neglecting necessary time for our mental and physical health and wellbeing.

The good news is, the new year will be here before we know it! And if you're in need of some health and fitness-related holiday tips or resolutions, you've come to the right place.

We sought out the advice of Stephanie Mansour, a health and fitness expert who's been featured on "The Today Show," "Dr. Oz," CNN and ABC Chicago. For the past decade, Mansour has made it her mission to help millions of people “step it up” with weight loss tips, lifestyle hacks and fitness secrets.

So what are the fitness guru's goals for 2019? "I change my health, fitness and wellness goals all the time based on how I’m feeling or what’s going on in my life," says Mansour.

However, the holidays are somewhat of an exception to a healthy diet for Mansour — especially when it comes to her mom's holiday thumbprint cookies and her father's Lebanese cooking. "I do not beat myself up or feel bad about it — it’s just part of life!" she says.

Mansour let us in on all her healthy holiday secrets, as well as how to start 2019 off on the right foot, below:

What are some health and fitness-related resolutions that you can actually stick to this year?

I love encouraging my private weight loss clients to start small. If you haven’t been to the gym once in the last month, don’t resolve to make it there five times a week in the first month. Instead, make a goal of going two times per week. Prove it to yourself that you can do it for two weeks, and then add in a third workout for two weeks, and go from there.

Similarly, if you’re making a resolution to be on a healthy diet or follow a weight loss program, remember that slow and steady wins the race! The “all or nothing” mentality is so prevalent because most diets don’t leave any wiggle room. So if you fall off the wagon, don't feel like you blew it and failed. Instead, leave room for flexibility and focus on the pieces of the program that you’re hitting rather than the parts that you’re missing.

I focus on larger goals, but there have to be smaller more manageable goals along the way. For example, I break down weight loss by months, weeks and days. What are the daily steps, the weekly steps and the monthly steps that get us to that big goal? Those are just as important as the big goal. So if you feel intimidated by a big goal, tell yourself that while it’s important to know where you’re driving to (let’s say, across the country to California), it’s just as important to check that you’re on the right path state-by-state.

Do you have any suggestions on getting back to a healthy lifestyle after the holidays?

Oftentimes people want to start with a clean slate in the new year. If possible, I like using the holidays as prep work for the new year’s clean slate, mentally getting in gear, getting excited to follow a regimented routine after the holidays and physically putting things in place.

Do you need new gym shoes for a workout resolution? Do you need to buy a pill box to organize your daily supplements or vitamins? What are the action steps you need to take to prepare for the start of your healthy lifestyle after the holidays? Write a list and get those things done so you’re excited and prepared to get back on track.

Any tips on managing stress during the holidays and into the new year?

YES! Schedule in your “me” time. Whether it’s a 60-second meditation, a 60-minute yoga class or a long shower, do things that make you feel good and make this a regular part of your life.

Where are the best spots to exercise around Chicago?

I love gyms and workout studios. Pick your favorite workout, and go there! Barre classes, pilates studios, spin studios — I love them all. I also like gyms like Equinox or FFC, whatever is closest to you. I always recommend exercise spots that are either close to home or close to work so that it’s not an inconvenience to get there. Or, if you have a gym membership, treat yourself to a studio class at SoulCycle or another workout studio and pay for one class at a time.

Where are some of your favorite spots to de-stress around Chicago?

I absolutely LOVE the Four Seasons Spa! I get a 55-minute massage and stay there for two hours. The steam room, the lounge room, the candles, the plush robes — it screams luxury! I make a day out of it and I’ll go home and put on a face mask, read a book or listen to a podcast.

I also enjoy going into Anthropologie and window shopping. Sometimes I don’t even bring a credit card (on purpose!) I love their clothes and products, and it’s a very calming place for me. I even recommend to my clients to just go to their favorite store with a cup of coffee, and find somewhere to sit and just be in that space and energy.

I also love the meditation studio called CHILL. Their classes are amazing, and you can literally chill in the space for hours before or after a class!

What’s your health or wellness-related New Year’s resolution?

I change my health, fitness and wellness goals all the time based on how I’m feeling or what’s going on in my life. I like to keep things fresh. Last year, I committed to attending meditation classes to strengthen my own personal meditation practice at home. Halfway through the year, I started committing to playing tennis at least two times per week because I love it and want to get better at it!

I’m letting some goals marinate in my mind, but for 2019 I am thinking about adding more cardio or spin classes into my workout routine to really push my body. I’m feeling pretty relaxed and am ready to change it up. But, if I feel like I’m stressed, I’ll turn to more relaxing workouts like yoga and pilates. I’m also adding more fat and fiber into my diet, but still figuring out how many grams and servings I want to have as my goal.

When you DO indulge over the holidays what’s the one cheat meal or snack that’s totally worth it?

I love my mom’s thumbprint cookies! I can literally eat five of them in a row standing at the counter in my parent’s house and chatting with my family. I like forcing myself to eat a piece of broccoli or a carrot after I eat one cookie so that I change my tastebuds and don’t overdo it!

I am half Lebanese and half Italian, so whenever my mom makes pasta, I have more than one serving. However, I make gluten-free pasta because regular wheat pasta upsets my stomach. It’s still empty carbs, but I don’t eat it every day and I enjoy it with my family! When my dad makes Lebanese food, I eat it all day! I try to avoid feeling overly stuffed, but sometimes I do and that’s OK. I do not beat myself up or feel bad about it — it’s just part of life!

Stephanie Mansour of Step It Up with Steph is a health and fitness expert and a weight loss coach for women. You can join her free 21 Day Challenge here.

Image Credit: Stephanie Mansour