By: GHF Personal Trainer, Marcus Thompson
It’s that time of year again. Turkey, stuffing, and sweet potato pie last week, followed by the endless flow of Christmas cookies fulfilling our everlasting holiday cravings throughout the next month of December. Is it realistic to believe that you can maintain your weight or stay on track for your weight loss goals during such a time of temptation? The answer is yes. Although it may not be easy, it is simple. Here are ten ways to stay fit throughout the holidays:
- Do not Binge Eat: The trick here is to avoid totally depriving yourself of your favorite foods. Instead of allowing yourself to set unrealistic goals, simply establish a limit and consume less. Eat a few cookies to help mitigate your craving instead of resisting until you break down and eat the entire plate full.
- Limit your Buying of Sweets: Making good decisions in the stores will lead to good decisions being made in the kitchen at home.
- Never Stop Exercising: Just because you may be out of town or busy with family, there isn’t an excuse to completely abandon your exercise regime. There is always a way to get some physical activity in throughout your day. Exercise with body weight, take walks with your family, or play sports. Make it fun!
- Limit your Meal Proportions: It’s okay to splurge and eat your favorite entrees or side dishes, but try not to go overboard. It may help to eat from a smaller plate and try to load on protein before any carbs. Calories are a huge facet of weight loss; try to limit your total caloric count and make food sacrifices when necessary. Cut down on carbs!
- Relax and Avoid Stress: High levels of stress brought on by the holidays can elevate the level of cortisol in the bloodstream. Known as the “stress hormone”, cortisol can be detrimental at continuous high levels and directly leads to more abdominal fat, among other inimical aspects.
- Do not wait until the New Year for Change: This tip could possibly be the number one way to stay fit. Never get into the mindset of, “I’m just going to let go for the holidays and get back in shape for the New Year.” It’s much harder to get back in shape then to simply maintain. Do not set yourself up for failure.
- Be Mindful of Beverages: Be sure to add every beverage you drink into your total caloric count for the day. Try to avoid drinks with a high sugar content and elude consuming too much alcohol (beer is high in calories).
- Get Plenty Sleep: With all of the family, cooking, and shopping going on, assure to be consistent with your sleeping routine. Sleep at least six to nine hours a night.
- Drink Water: Try to drink more water than you normally do. This will keep you from drinking high calorie drinks and also balance out the consumption of alcohol.
- Eat Breakfast: A common misconception is that people should skip breakfast because they are eating big meals later in the day, wrong! Eat breakfast to stay on a routine and get your metabolism going early in the day. This also helps to mitigate over eating and binge eating of sweets.
Apply these ten tips during the holiday season to stay on pace to meet all of your goals for training. The holidays are not a time to throw the towel in and just do whatever. There is a way to enjoy the holidays without forcing your body to pay the consequence. Any questions? Contact our trainers. Happy Holidays!
