I get so many questions about my workout routine, my diet, and how I stay in ‘good shape’. I know the Holidays are full of parties and meals and keeping my workout and healthy eating over the next few weeks are always tricky. I am breaking down some of my habits that have helped me in the past keep my heath goals on track.
Moderation is key!
Don’t let your healthy lifestyle off the rails just because its the Holidays. I will eat more cookies, enjoy the cocktails and rich meals, but in moderation. I don’t let me healthy lifestyle fall to the waste side just because I indulge a little bit more. I don’t beat myself up for the treats I indulge in, but I still make good decisions and don’t eat the whole tray of treats. I will have more than normal, but not abandon my healthy lifestyle and binge in any way. Don’t beat yourself up for the night of cookies and champagne, still go to catch your workout the next day. just because you had one rich meal doesn’t mean you go nuts for three weeks straight. Moderation is key.
Sweat it out
Yes the holiday season is busy and jam packed, but don’t miss your workouts! Schedule them in and make time. Even a 30 min quick sweat session is great! It gets your metabolism going and encourages yourself to make good healthy decisions the rest of the day. It also makes you feel better about yourself and gives you more energy in the long run.
Do not skip meals
I hear this all the time- knowing you are having a big meal with the family so skipping lunch or breakfast. The reality is you will be hungry, you will make bad decisions at your feast, and you will be doing more harm then good. You are telling your body to go into starvation mode by not eating all day, so at the big meal you’ve been “saving” yourself for, your body will hold onto those calories as fat for the next time you go into starvation mode because that is what you are tannin it to do by skipping the meal….. if you ate lunch, you would not be starving by dinner and be sat with your ordering decisions.
Grace on grace
I feel a lot of the way we feel about ourselves has more to do with our mind and less to do with our physical appearance. I have grace for myself over the holidays. It’s ok if I gain a little bit of weight over the holidays. I almost expect that, knowing in Jan I will loose any extra weight I gained. There are parties and cookies and celebrations and I don’t want to get caught up in my physical appearance that I miss the joys of this season. I feel happier and better mental and physically when I am living a healthy lifestyle, but I also love celebrating life and a little cheese and wine never hurt anyone!
*I am not a trained professional but am simply offering my advice.
Photo by Michael Sharp