Staying on Track This Holiday Season!!
Throughout the holiday season we often hear how hard it is to stay in shape and find time to work out. Of course, it is a very busy time of year and it is very easy to get off track. However; there are a few adjustments you can make in order to stay healthy over the holiday season. Try to follow these three guidelines and you will be on your way to a healthier holiday you!!
1) Is it an obstacle or an excuse? People tend to use the holiday season as an excuse to stop going to the gym and eat foods they would normally fight to stay away from. You either have too much baking, cooking, shopping or functions to attend and people tend to think that unhealthy eating goes hand in hand with this busy schedule. However; a busy schedule and an abundance of available treats are just obstacles to overcome and we tend to use them as excuses to indulge. You can overcome the busy schedule and find time to hit the gym, which helps you to make healthier choices at functions.
2) Find the time, don’t worry about the place! We always hear “there is so much to do and so little time.” Reality is what day can you not find at least 20 to 30 minutes to set aside and be active? The trick to this obstacle is planning ahead and being accountable. Just because you can’t get to the 6pm spin class does not mean you can’t go to the gym later and use a treadmill. We are creatures of habit and we like routine, so we tend to think if we can’t make it to the gym at our usual time, we can’t go at all. That is a flat out excuse! You can go to the gym at a different time or even fit in a workout at home. Your body is a great machine that can be used anywhere to help fit in a workout, whether at home, the gym or at the in-laws.
3) You don’t HAVE TO eat everything served! Throughout the holiday season there is an abundance of unhealthy options being thrown our way. Hold yourself accountable because you can choose what you eat. Telling yourself it is too hard to eat healthy over the holidays in an excuse to eat unhealthy because there are a lot of healthy and fun options out there. So when you go up for that second helping of apple pie, ask yourself if you really need that second helping. One suggestion to help fight the obstacle of over-indulging is planning ahead. Before you go to a holiday function eat a light healthy meal and drink a bottle of water, so when you reach the table with unhealthy food you won’t be as hungry. Therefore, you will be less likely to take as much food as you would if you were hungry.
Don’t accept the idea that the holidays are a time where we fall out of shape. Be accountable, and realize you are the source and you have the ability to make choices. Don’t use the season as an excuse, you can overcome the obstacle and stay healthy over the holidays. Of course, we’re not saying to deprive yourself. We want you to enjoy the holidays but we also want you to be aware that the holidays do not have to be a time where you fall out of shape and put a wrench in your healthy eating habits.
Have a happy and healthy holiday season :) Jenn
