Keeping your fitness and nutrition plan on track during the holidays can be a challenge. But keep in mind how hard you have worked all year to get to where you are at - you certainly do not want to have to start back at the beginning!
Keeping focus during this busy and stressful time is hard, and takes preparation and commitment. Acknowledge that you will encounter a variety of healthy and unhealthy food options during this time. Decide how you plan to approach these situations. Depriving yourself completely may result in binging, which is way worse than just enjoying that cookie when you actually wanted it.
Healthy food options may be limited at different social gatherings over the holidays. Consider bringing your own snack as backup, just in case. Or perhaps eat before you go. Stay away from the buffet table, and reduce the amount of alcohol you may consume. The calories add up quickly, alcohol is dehydrating, and cause you to fill up on unhealthy food options.
Stress is kept at bay if you continue to exercise during the holidays. Give yourself the time to relax. Schedule a massage, take time to devote to your hobby, take a bubble bath, enjoy a book, go for a walk, whatever stressbuster works for you!! Increased stress also increases the amount you eat. Keeping the stress level low will help you stay in control of your eating habits.
Exercise is easily put on hold during this time. Once you get out of the habit, it is hard to get back into it. Realize that you may not exercise as much as usual, but keep it up as best you can. Maybe try a home routine instead of hitting the gym.
Some easy ways to get in extra exercise - snow shoveling, tobogganing, skiing, park the car further away at the mall and walk, dancing with the kids in the living room, build a snowman, you get the idea.
Enjoy the holiday season. Take some time for yourself.
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