8 Tips for staying fit during the holidays

I anticipate the holidays with a mix of emotions. I get excited about the actual holiday festivities while I simultaneously dread the disappointment I’m bound to experience. You know what I’m talking about. I dread the fact that my self-discipline will fail again and again during what I call “the eating season.”

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Consistency
is key

I anticipate the holidays with a mix of emotions. I get excited about the actual holiday festivities while I simultaneously dread the disappointment I’m bound to experience. You know what I’m talking about. I dread the fact that my self-discipline will fail again and again during what I call “the eating season.”

I’ve decided that this is the year to end the cycle. Instead of squeaking into the New Year with nominal weight gain and nominal loss of fitness, this is the year when I am going to get in better shape during the holidays! I don’t want to do this alone, so join me in the quest to break the cycle this holiday season.

Write down your intended workouts each week, including the time of day when you will do them.

The earlier you can do your workout each day, the better. With all the cookie sneaking throughout the workday, there will be an even greater tendency to blow off your afternoon workout.

Log the results of your workouts — the simple act of writing them down will hold you more accountable. If you skip a workout or skimp on a workout, you know you’ll have to write it down in your journal. You don’t want to disappoint your journal, do you?!

Staying hydrated makes you feel more full. Drink lots of water before, during and after your workouts. By the way, staying hydrated also makes you look and feel younger (nice additional perk).

Turn at least one workout a week into a holiday party. That means — invite friends! And if time allows, hang out afterward to refuel.

When pinched for time, split up your workouts. If you only have two 20-minute windows, take advantage of both of them. Do a run in the morning and a core workout in the evening. You don’t have to give up when your day gets crunched!

Choose either drinks or dessert. Avoid having both every night.

Consistency is key. Don’t give up. You can do it! We can do it!

More health tips for the holidays

7 Holistic ways to experience a healthy holiday
10 Healthy holiday foods to serve this time of year
5 Fitness gadgets out this holiday season