Staying Fit During the Holidays

Bring it on...the high-calorie food and drinks, that is! 

Is that how you've approached this magical time of year? You're not alone. 

Most people lose sight of their fitness and fat loss goals entirely this month, only to have a rude awakening when their clothes are snug come January.  Want to avoid the rude awakening? Read on...

With all the delicious treats and high calorie foods dominating the holidays, it's really no wonder most people gain weight during this time of year.  If you really want to sidestep those holiday pounds, I'm here to be your voice of reason and to make sure that you don't forget your goal.

Last week I shared with you some strategies to survive the holidays. Today, I'm going to give you three more steps you can follow to help you stay fit this holiday season.

Get Re-Focused

The focus in so many of our holiday traditions is on food. This holiday season try to re-focus your attention away from food and back on to what's really important—friends, family, giving, and religious traditions. Stay focused on the reason for the season rather than the plate full of hors d'oeuvres in front of you. 

It's important that you don't lose sight of your dieting goals. Remind yourself of all the progress that you've made. Keep your goals in the forefront of your mind. Be aware that the holidays can be a time of emotional eating. Sometimes stress, family conflict, or even depression can be triggered. If this happens to you, try to address the root of your problems with solutions other than food or drink. 

​Not sure how to achieve your goals? Here's how to achieve any goal.

Have a Strategy

It's important to have a strategy when approaching the many celebrations held this time of year. With night after night of parties and events, you'll need to pace yourself in order to keep your eating on track. 

The most obvious and effective strategy is to not arrive at the party hungry. Instead, eat a small low-calorie snack ahead of time to prevent overeating. When it's time for extreme measures, wear tight-fitting clothes around your waist so there's not much room for expansion! I'm kidding...but just sort of.

Another idea is to have two glasses of water before a meal, so you won't be tempted to overindulge in appetizers and desserts. During the party, don't stand right next to the food table, instead keep a safe distance. And before you get a plate of food, choose your selections wisely. Use a small plate instead of a large dinner plate and don't go back for seconds.

Another important strategy is figuring out how to get a workout in between parties. Finding room in your busy holiday schedule for exercise will help you fight off the extra weight trying to attach itself to your midsection and rear.

Here's a 20 minute fat burning workout you can do from home and without equipment.

Moderation, Moderation, Moderation

I'm not suggesting that you deprive yourself of all the foods you love, as this will likely lead to a splurge that ruins all your good intentions. Be smart about what you choose to eat. Enjoy the goodness of the season, but in moderation. Trim calories where you can by limiting your trimmings - cheeses, gravy, sauces, creams, and nuts. 

Some of your favorite indulgences may only come around this time of year (I'm looking at you peppermint bark). This may cause you to want to overindulge before it's too late. Instead of stuffing yourself, survey what foods are available and make your choices. Indulge in your favorites and leave the everyday dishes for another time. Only eat what you  really love, and don't just eat something because it's on the buffet.

Also, be sure to limit the amount of alcoholic beverages you drink. While you may not know it, they're filled with calories, too. Try alternating an alcoholic drink with water.

Follow these simple tips and you can help minimize your holiday weight gain this season and start 2018 off on the right foot.

Of course, exercise is a huge part of the equation when it comes to achieving weight loss and I'm passionate about seeing my clients achieve results—without wasting time, energy and effort on mistakes. If you're looking for help to avoid that holiday weight gain, then feel free to call or email me to set up a consultation. 

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Yours in good health,
​
Coach George
Online Certified Trainer
Body Transformation Coach
ISSA Certified Fitness Trainer
Precision Nutrition Certified Nutritionist
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​P.S. Don't forget to download your complimentary "Nutrition and Fitness for Busy Professionals" Starter Pack, do so right here!