Let’s face it, the festive season is a tough time to stick to your fitness goals. It’s the time of year we get to spend time at home or with our loved ones and destress - and that can mean spending less time at the gym or following that carefully-planned diet. Especially true when there are puddings and side dishes galore!
Then, by the time the New Year comes around, we’re all gung-ho to get back on the right track and rush our way towards our goals. This makes us more likely to rely on crash diets and “quick fixes” that can do way more damage than good.
We’re here to tell you it’s ok. The holidays shouldn’t be about over-restricting yourself, and you might not make it to as many workouts as you would during a normal month.
There are, however, some things you should keep in mind when you’re wondering how to stay consistent in your fitness journey over the holidays.
We’ve put together our best tips here below:
Accept What You Cannot Change
One of the most important things you need to remember when you’re going into the holiday season is that you need to be realistic. This is not the time to aim to shred or lose a crazy amount of body fat percentage.
The festive season is full of temptations, and it’s not the end of the world if you indulge a little, or skip out on going to that early workout class. It’s ok to take it a little easier than normal, and don’t punish yourself for doing so.
Try To Stay Active
We might not be able to follow our routines 100% during the holidays, but that doesn’t mean that you should stop being active altogether. Try to plan out some times that you might be able to do something that gets you moving - whether it’s a morning walk, a swim, or even an outdoor yoga class.
Try and set up a workout that you can easily adapt to your environment. Bodyweight exercises, for example, are great because they require no equipment and can be done anywhere.
Drink More Water
A habit you should work on building now is ensuring that you are drinking enough water, even during the holidays.
At festive occasions and parties, many of our calories end up being liquid. For your general fitness journey during this point, the best thing you can do is to check that you are having enough water during the day.
You might also want to be a bit more selective with your tipple of choice. Creamy, sugary alcoholic drinks are loaded with empty calories. You’re better off sticking with clean spirits or wine.
Eat Regularly
The one thing you do not want to do during the holidays is to go around on an empty stomach.
Let us explain: you’re invited to a pre-Christmas dinner with your favorite aunt and her family. Maybe your aunt is a formidable cook, and she has made multiple rich dishes that might be better for the tastebuds than for the waistline.
If you were to eat something before you went to visit, you wouldn’t be tempted to over-indulge. We all know that we tend to eat more than usual or give in to cravings more when we are hungry. Curb part of the hunger (a pre-game of its own) and you can enjoy the party food in more reasonable portions.
Plan For The Future
Last on the list is to start planning ahead for your training after the holidays. You’ll know that realistically you’ll be going in a bit greener than you were before the festive season, but it’s a great opportunity to challenge yourself and set new goals.
SRQ Health & Fitness Studio is the ideal place to restart your fitness journey in the new year. Say goodbye to intimidating group workouts and one-size-fits-all approaches to fitness.
Our trainers take a true personal interest in developing relationships with our clients to fully understand their goals and needs, so they can deliver a unique and customized workout program. This means we’ll meet you where you’re at, but get you where you’ll want to be.