Are you going away from your usual routine for the holidays and worried about falling off? Relax. We’ve got you.
Here are a few quick holiday fitness tips for staying on top of your game with the challenges that you’ll face over the holidays.
Holiday Fitness Tips
1. Stick to your routine
Book a session at a gym at your holiday destination. Whether you do CrossFit, Orange Theory, Barre, or something else, most gyms can be found in densely populated areas.
2. Stay consistent
If your travel plans include a somewhat remote area or frequent relocation, think about how you can get a workout in while you’re on the road.
At home workouts can be the easiest way to stay on track. If you don’t know what to do, talk to your current trainer, reach out to us for some resources, or grab one of our Travel WODs here!
3. Have some fun
One of the best parts of the holidays is being around lots of people. Get outside and move! There are tons of ways to have fun with friends and family, whether it be a walk, a bike ride, or throwing a football in the yard.
Going where it’s cold? Go start a snowball fight! Just having some fun and getting your heart rate up can do wonders for the body. If it’s too cold, just roll up a bunch of socks and start the “snowball” fight indoors!
Holiday Nutrition Tips
4. Balance your choices
Start your holiday meals with some good options. Fill up at least half of your plate with healthy foods before diving into the delicious treats.
Focus on protein and veggies so that you get some good nutrients. Sometimes just taking that first step in the right direction can be huge.
5. Watch for hidden calories
It’s easy at the holidays for our eyes to be bigger than our stomachs. There’s so much food out, and it all looks so good – we want to try it all! Remember, there will always be more.
If you struggle with over eating, focus on lighter calorie options to fill the bulk of your diet. Many high fiber foods are often lower in calories, and more filling. Starting with these can decrease your overall intake.
6. Plan ahead
Balance your lifestyle and plan for those treats. If you’re going to want to eat a lot of treats, know how it will affect you, and plan to balance that out with a workout and a healthier meal later.
If you’re dealing with holiday parties, check out our post on Holiday Eating 101 for some quick tips on how to stay on track.
7. Keep calorie totals in mind
Eating cheesecake and cookies later tonight? Sweet! Eat a smaller meal or two earlier in the day to help keep the calorie total where it should be.
While we want the majority of calories to come from veggies, protein, and healthy fats, the holidays can be a time where we tend to let that slide. Focus on the overall calorie goal for the day to help keep yourself from overeating.
8. Get back on track
Plan how to get back on track when you return! Taking time to enjoy life is key, and planning for the long term is your key to success.
Before you get back from the holidays, already have your next workout scheduled so that you get right back on it.
Have your groceries planned out for when the holidays are over so that you get right back into your normal healthy routine eating habits.
The holidays can be a tough time of year for everyone. It’s easy to lose focus on the regular healthy habits you’ve instilled, and easy to spend so much time focusing on others that we forget about ourselves.
Use these holiday fitness tips to help you do the best you can and get right back on track in the new year. Remember, the greatest gift you can give yourself is health!
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