The holiday season has begun. How do I know? I see half-priced bags of candy corn at the CVS, people are planning their Thanksgiving feasts, and of course, the stores already have their Christmas displays up.
Many have family traditions that recur year after year and are passed down through the generations. Some people even have a “tradition” of putting on weight during this time of year and then spending the first five months of the year trying in vain to take it off in time for swimsuit season. Is it any wonder why health clubs are packed in January.
Why do we do this to ourselves? The reasons I hear are many:
- “I have no time to exercise with so much to do for the holidays.”
- “My co-workers keep bringing cookies, pastries, and candy into work.”
- “My family puts out a huge spread every holiday. There is so much food.”
- “All this shopping makes me hungry, and the food court has nothing healthy.”
- “I have so many parties to attend this time of year.”
- “I feel like I’m missing out if I’m the only one not eating and drinking to excess.”
Are these valid reasons or merely excuses we tell ourselves to decrease the guilt?
When you finally make the brave decision to avoid this annual ritual, follow these tips for success:
- Rid yourself of all leftover Halloween candy and treats. If it is a trigger, it shouldn’t be in your home.
- Rev up your workouts NOW, increasing your visits to the gym and pushing a little harder each time. It may even be time for a new program.
- Plan some healthy dishes for your Thanksgiving meal. Prepare vegetables without the fattening sauces, sweet potatoes without the marshmallows and molasses, and eat fresh berries with low-fat yogurt, instead of cherry pie.
- Replace at least half of your alcohol consumption with water. The extra calories, slower metabolism, and inhibitor to fat loss isn’t worth it.
- Recruit some friends and family members to join you in your quest. Being the only person who is eating and drinking sensibly can be lonely. You are more likely to succeed when others share the same goal.
- Eat a healthy and filling meal before you go to the shopping mall. The aroma from Cinnabon is much more tempting on an empty stomach.
- Bring healthy snacks to your workplace to give yourself a fighting chance against the temptation of holiday cookie platters. Tell your coworkers of your goals, so maybe they will respect your wishes and not apply peer pressure. They might even join you!
Please don’t take this message to mean DO NOT HAVE FUN. If you need to eat and drink to excess to have fun, then the advice I’m giving you may very well fall on deaf ears.
Fun, for me, comes from being with loved ones, eating good (but healthy) food, having a drink or two, and engaging in interesting conversations.
What’s not fun for me is feeling stuffed, getting drunk, waking up with a headache, and not being able to button my jeans on January 2.
Why wait to make a New Year’s resolution when you can resolve TODAY to get fit and stay fit! If you need help, check out our website, activelifefitness.net/ or email us at info@activelifefitness.net.
Active Life Fitness Personal Trainers & Gym
94 North Ave, Garwood, NJ 07027 (908) 389-8009
