Halloween is right around the corner and shortly after that, you’ll be moving into Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. If this has you feeling nervous, not to worry, you definitely aren’t alone. Most people gain 5-10 pounds (or more!) during the holiday season and some never manage to lose that weight.
So what tips should you know with regards to staying on track? How can you make sure that you don’t fall off the fitness bandwagon this year?
Let’s look at a few of the key secrets that will help.
Choose Your Indulgences
Trying to get through the holiday season without at least one indulgence would be mission impossible for 99.9% of the people out there. You simply will want to eat something seasonal at some point or another. There’s nothing wrong with that! Remember that any good diet should allow for some indulgence at some point.
The trick is choosing when. Plan ahead. If you are going to one party where you know there will be decadent cheesecake, and you must have some, make that your one indulgence for the week. Then you have to wait until next week to choose something else.
When you plan ahead like this, you reduce the risk of spontaneous eating of something you shouldn’t. You also won’t feel deprived as you know that once per week, you can eat something you truly enjoy.
Do Damage Control
Another smart move is to do some damage control. If you are going to a party where you know there will be lot of delicious food being served, cut back on your carbs and fats for the few hours beforehand. This way, you can eat a bit more at that party and still come out with your total daily calorie intake in check.
Keep in mind that that number is what really matters for weight gain or loss.
Find Fun Ways To Stay Active
Finally, make sure that you are looking for a few fun ways to stay active this holiday season. You might not make it to the gym four to five times a week like you used to, but if you can hit the gym two or three times and the other days do something fun like go snowshoeing, you’ll still sustain a high level of fitness. Take your workouts away from the gym for a change.
Keep these tips in mind and you can come out of the holiday season with your health and fitness in tact.
