Practical Ways to Stay Fit at Christmas
by charlie smart in News
It’s that time of year again when lots of FOOD is around and looking yummier and more tempting than ever! We start to feel as though we are done for the year and food moderation flies out of the window. It’s hard to stay on track when there is so much temptation around in the form of endless chocolate and biscuits! Wouldn’t it be nice to not have to start every new year with that ‘New Year, New Me’ – what if you could carry on the old motivated you throughout Christmas and into the New Year? Don’t you worry, we are going to give you some top tips on how it is possible to not completely dive off the deep end head first into a new jean size.
Select your treats very carefully – we aren’t saying to go completely cold turkey and cut everything out as that will only make you crave more and go on to binge everything in sight! Think about your options before choosing, be vigilant. If you are struggling with your decision or the options are not great, cut down the size of that portion e.g. you don’t have to eat the whole tub of pringles.
Drink in moderation – again, it’s Christmas and we don’t want to take all the fun away! Just be mindful of the amount of alcohol you are consuming, think about your calorie allowance for the day and just drink in moderation instead of binging. Christmas is about family and fun, not about getting sozzled!
Get out of the house – take family walks or go out and play with the kids on their new bikes or scooters. Try not to stay cooped up in the house as your mind will wander to the sheer amount of leftovers and chocolates you have in the house.
Set realistic targets – it’s only natural over Christmas to go a little off the rails and consume more food than you normally would – set yourself a target or give yourself a few days downtime if you really don’t think you will be able to stay on track, it won’t kill you. You could try giving yourself a greater calorie consumption for a few days but promise yourself to stay within the mindset. We all need a bit of help in the festive period to not absolutely stuff our faces – if you need to, do it with someone – set some targets and encourage each other!
Be Prepared – if you are taking a trip or eating out over the holiday period be sure to prepare yourself. Look at the menu before you leave to make sure you are not shocked when you get there – it might be a case of having less calories during the day if the evening meal out is going to be a little more calorific. If you are taking a trip, make sure you know where you are going, can you take food or healthier snacks with you to prevent overindulging? Ask a friend for help, if they know you are trying to stay on track, they can help you make better decisions and stay motivated when eating and drinking.
So, there you have it, a few ways to prepare yourself and to stay motivated to keep up your fitness journey over the festive period. We know it’s hard and we know it is Christmas. Moderation is key!