Easy Ways to Be Fit During the Festive Season
The holidays are here, and many people not only break their customary diets, but also gain a few pounds. According to statistics, the majority of people gain weight during the holiday season, which begins on Thanksgiving Day and continues with New Year’s Eve celebrations. The additional weight gain is attributed to excessive eating, but it is also attributable to inadequate physical activity and exercise.
Many people put their fitness routines on hold during the holidays because they fear they will not have the time to complete them; this makes most gyms and fitness centers filled up with new members after the holiday season because they feel terrible. Always keep in mind that you can enjoy your vacation while staying in shape. If you want to stay in shape during the holidays, especially around Christmas and New Year’s Eve, here are some helpful tips:
13 Helpful Tips to Stay in Shape During the Festive Season
Plan and Stay Fit
In terms of interrupting your best fitness and weight-control intentions, the holidays can be a minefield. Like a great coach going into a huge game, start each day with a game plan. To begin, keep note of your food intake and level of activity. This makes you aware of the calorie content of various foods. Even if you choose higher-calorie foods, you’ll most likely consume fewer portions and make other changes to keep under your daily caloric targets. Also, sticking to a workout routine is by far one of the most effective methods to keep on track, especially during this hectic time of year. Schedule your workouts ahead of time and register for the sessions you want to attend. Having it written down on the calendar is often enough to keep you going. Simply put, don’t waste time without making a plan.
Set Reasonable Workout Objectives
You should set realistic exercise goals. Aim for at least half an hour per day, and you’ll be ecstatic when you succeed. If you set aside an hour or more and do not follow through, you will only be disappointed.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Sleep is necessary for a good mood, good health, and a positive outlook, which is precisely what you want during the holidays. Make time for sleep, even if you have travel plans for the holidays. Keep in mind that consistency is crucial, so even when traveling, try to stick to your regular bed and waking timings. Maintaining a soothing sleep routine can aid in this process. It has the ability to assist in the shift of your mind and body from wakefulness to sleep. Many of us will be running on empty around the holidays, which isn’t healthy for anyone’s health. Don’t stay up later or rise up early to get more done, no matter how busy you are. It’s best if you receive all of your sleep at night. A well-rested individual accomplishes more and does it better than someone who is sleep-deprived.
Always Stay Hydrated
Thirst and hunger can be confused by the brain at times. Drinking a large glass of water before a meal will help you eat less. Drink six to eight glasses of water every day, with two large glasses of water consumed before large, calorie-dense meals.
Get Rid of the ‘All or Nothing’ Mentality and use Every Opportunity
While the holidays are stressful, try to avoid the “all or nothing” approach when it comes to eating well and getting enough exercise. In actuality, there are numerous ways to live a healthy and active lifestyle. Although planning and preparation are beneficial, even the best-laid plans can be derailed, particularly during the holidays. If you can’t seem to find a way to work out, get creative and find ways to exercise your body in whatever manner you can. If everyone is watching football, get down on the floor and do some sit-ups or push-ups. If it feels strange, consider isometric exercises, such as squeezing and holding your abs, glutes, or even pressing your hands together to work your chest.
Pick up some full water bottles or soup cans for short lateral raises or overhead presses if you don’t have any. You could also set up a game of football, tag, or hide & seek if you’re hanging out with youngsters. Offer to assist with housework, snow shoveling, or leaf raking. Go for a walk as much as possible. Increase your mall laps, take the stairs, and offer to walk with the dog.
Don’t Skip Meals!
Don’t forget to eat your meals, especially breakfast! Even while it may be tempting to skip meals in the hopes of compensating for the delights you consumed the day before, don’t do it because it will only lead to negative consequences.
Be Mindful of What you Eat
Make prudent choices when it comes to the pleasures you consume. You should select something that you will only be able to appreciate during the Christmas season, rather than something that is available all year.
Eat Before Heading out
First and foremost, you should eat something before going on visits, travels, or family dinners. Because you have already eaten, you will not be tempted to consume too much or overindulge yourself. Skipping meals is also not a smart idea because it will force you to eat more later on.
Increase your Walking Speed
When you go to the indoor/outdoor malls and when you’re wandering about your neighborhood admiring the holiday decorations, try doing some frequent spurts of ‘rapid walking’ for around 30 seconds.” This is a type of interval training that has been proved to be good for your heart and helps you burn more calories, which is always a good thing over the holidays.
Prioritize your Workouts
Make an effort to do them first thing in the morning when everyone else is still sleeping. You’ll also avoid comments like “Oh, come on! It’s the holiday season no need for that.”
Don’t Forget your Strength Training
Always remember to do your strength training to keep the muscle mass you’ve worked so hard to achieve. You might be tempted to use lightweights and just perform cardio, but lifting weights burns just as many calories. You might even build some muscle with all of those additional stakes you had on the holiday dinners. And this is far preferable to gaining weight.
Take a Breather for a Moment
Stress is all-pervasive, and it skyrockets over the holiday season. Every day, take a ‘me time,’ as we have a higher chance of mitigating the impacts of daily stress if we are purposeful about our self-care routine and remind ourselves to breathe in and out. Motivation is less likely to diminish as a result, and we feel better and move more.
Enjoy yourself
Have a wonderful holiday. If you’re worried about overeating on this one day, remember that it won’t make or break your health strategy. Unfortunately, most people develop a habit of daily ‘treats’ in some form or another, or they neglect to exercise because of visiting relatives. Enjoy the holiday, but don’t allow it to turn into a month of indulgence that leads to undesirable behaviors that last beyond the holiday season.
Now that you Know…
It might seem tough to stay active during the holidays. Your schedule has been thrown into disarray, and your energy levels have plummeted, but if you set aside a few minutes each day to do some at-home stretches, go to the gym, or go for a bike ride, you can maintain your excellent physical condition until you resume your normal routine. Getting your family and friends engaged is a great way to stay active, but keep in mind that it isn’t for everyone to be social and create some wonderful Christmas memories with your loved ones.
