With the holidays fast approaching, the struggle to stay healthy is a CHALLENGE!!!.
We’re constantly surrounded by parties, drinks, and all kinds of good (but maybe not the most healthy) foods.
So how can you stay healthy this year?
It’s easier than you might think and we can help put you on the right path.
Keep reading for four powerful tips to keep fit and avoid holiday weight gain.
1. Plan & Schedule Your Workouts
First, it’s important to stay consistent with your workouts to maintain holiday health. Most gyms and fitness centers only close for Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day with only some abbreviated hours.
But if your gym is closed through the holiday, go for a walk, or try an online workout like this one. Our trainers will provide you with workout programming, training, and accountability.
If you don’t have a structured workout program, it will be easier to blow off your workout. Plan it out now and make sure you schedule it in your calendar with reminders.
2. Make Fitness a Priority
Even if you have a workout program, staying healthy over the holidays might seem impossible. Many people tell themselves that they don’t have enough time for fitness.
Well, we’re here to tell you that you do have time, you just have to learn how to find it. For example, how much time do you spend watching TV each day? How much time do you spend scrolling through Instagram or Pinterest?
If you’re exceptionally busy, it can be helpful to ditch the all-or-nothing mentality. You might not have time for your traditional full-hour workout.
However, you can get plenty of exercise in 15 or 20 minutes. To stay healthy during the holiday, you might have to be a little more flexible in your routine.
3. Limit Your Alcohol Consumption
A lot of people use the holidays to grant themselves a little wiggle room when it comes to drinking. We tend to drink more during these days than usual.
While there’s nothing wrong with loosening up the reigns a little, alcohol is terrible for your health. And we’re not just talking about your liver.
From a fitness perspective, alcohol impedes your recovery, dehydrates your body, and lowers your performance.
Tip: If you’re looking for holiday drinks without the sugar and alcohol, try these “mocktails” made with real fruit and alternatives to sugar.
4. Enjoy Holiday Foods Without Over-Indulging
We can often sacrifice our health in lieu of all the good foods that are abundant during the holidays. Remember, try to avoid the all-or-nothing mentality. You can enjoy some delicious treats without over-indulging.
But if you do want to forego the sugar but not the treat itself, there are lots of alternative options for desserts that you can either make or pick up at your local health food store.
5. Manage your stress
The holidays can be stressful for some. Finding the perfect gift, making the perfect dinner and just the overall hustle and bustle means less time for you.
Try to take a few minutes a day to sit quietly and breathe. Maybe that means a quick meditation before you get out of bed in the morning or a hot bath before bed.
Remember what the holidays are really about. It’s about spending time with those you love dearly. It’s about laughter and connection and being grateful for family and friends.
Finally, give yourself some grace over the holidays. If something doesn’t go the way you wanted it to, it’s OK, let it go. Do the best you can and just let the rest go.
We wish you all the happiest holiday season.
From our family to yours
Kate and the LYBF family!