The holiday season is here and that means parties…so many parties, and treats…so many treats. Have you ever found yourself just giving up on your health and fitness goals during the holidays and telling yourself you’ll get back on track in January? But then January comes around and you feel like you’ve hit a huge setback, maybe you're feeling sluggish and you feel like you’re starting over. It can be overwhelming and intimidating, not a great way to start the year.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Here are some tips and tricks to help get you through the holiday season and still enjoy yourself:
- Find a Healthy Balance: Staying on track doesn’t mean depriving yourself of all the holiday fun. You can indulge without indulging. You’ve probably heard of the 80/20 rule. Eating healthy 80% of the time and allowing yourself to indulge in some treats 20% of the time. This is a great equation to follow during the holidays to be able to enjoy yourself without the guilt afterwards.
- Plan Workouts and Make Them a Priority: Life gets busy during the holidays and sometimes our workouts fall lower in priority. However, a fitness routine can be extremely important during this time. Exercise can help reduce holiday stress and keeping your body moving will help eliminate that feeling of sluggishness at the end of the holidays.
- Bring Healthy Options to the Party: If you’re not sure if there will be a healthy snack option at the party, why not bring one? If you know you’re going to want to snack at a gathering, have a healthy option there to help keep you on track.
- Drink Plenty of Water: Drinking plenty of water will help keep you hydrated and avoid that feeling of sluggishness. When out at a party or out with friends, try drinking a glass of water in between other holiday beverages.
- Find an Accountability Party or Challenge Group: Having others around you with similar goals helps you stay focused on your own goals. It’s also a great opportunity to share healthy holiday recipes, try a fun new workout class together, or enjoy a healthy holiday gathering together.
- Plan Ahead: “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Planning ahead helps you find success and stay on track.
