Staying Fit During the Holiday Season

With myriad temptations and excuses to overindulge, sticking to a healthy diet and exercise regimen can be a real challenge over the holidays. But staying fit during the holidays isn’t impossible! Here are some ways to keep your fitness on track while still enjoying yourself.

Keep it Moving

Try to plan around your Tuesday night cycling or Thursday weight lifting. If family obligations mean you’ll miss out on your routine, just improvise! Find ways to keep yourself moving in between events by taking walks with family members after meals, doing body-weight exercises, taking the stairs and parking further from your destination. If you know you won’t make it to the gym, modify your workout for home and make yourself do it at the beginning of the day. Shoot for 30-45 minutes of activity every day whether you can make it to the gym or not.

Plan Ahead

Plan your workouts for the week ahead of time. Having a visual reminder of your goals (whether on a calendar or in an app on your phone) will help you keep fitness a priority even when your schedule is packed. Be flexible and ditch the ‘all or nothing’ mindset about your goals. Being realistic and adaptable will keep you feeling motivated far more effectively than beating yourself up.

Indulge Within a Set Timeframe

It’s important to enjoy the holidays and be present with your loved ones. When you’re at a holiday event, remember that having dessert or a couple cocktails isn’t going to throw off your entire health plan. But it becomes very easy to overdo it when you bring home a mountain of leftovers. Don’t allow a day of indulgence to become several days – or a season – of mindless eating.

While holiday schedules get hectic quickly (especially when shuttling between various family events), it’s important to stick to your fitness routine where you can. No matter what happens, remember that some exercise is better than nothing at all. Enjoy yourself this holiday season and stay healthy!