Consistency is key to getting and staying fit. Proper exercise and nutrition aren’t one-and-done ideas. They’re commitments that rightly bring long-term benefits, not just short-term fixes.
Active adults who work to stay fit know this. And they know not to worry about big interruptions to their exercise and eating routines. They know those interruptions are inevitable – and many times, they’re even welcome.
Like holidays, for instance.
So how do they stay on track while also enjoying the seasonal indulgences, the socializing and the travel that this time of year can bring? There wouldn’t be much point to leading a healthy lifestyle if it could fall apart after a few days’ break, right?
Here are our Top 10 Tips for Staying on the Fitness Track over the holidays.
- Be active every day. Maintain your normal workout routine as much as possible. If you’re traveling, use the hotel gym or find one in the town your visiting. If necessary, do a little online research before you go.
- Work out and eat right in the days leading up to your travel or other break in your regular schedule. That will balance out the inevitable calorie spikes you’re going to enjoy.
- Remain flexible. When you can’t hit the gym, go for a walk or a jog. Try some bodyweight exercises. Play with the kids. Lead the family in an outing at a local park or sledding hill.
- Don’t let a single holiday become a week of gluttony and sloth. If you’re driving somewhere, pack a sensible lunch rather than rely on roadside fast food restaurants and diners. And plan to take 15-minute walking breaks every hour or two. … After the holiday, resist the temptation to keep eating leftovers. Get back to your fitness routine as soon as possible, even if you don’t quite feel like it yet.
- Drink plenty of water every day. It will help keep you from feeling hungry.
- Eat sensibly – vegetables first. Eat slowly. Stop when you feel 80 percent full, because it takes a while for our tummies to tell our brains we’ve had enough.
- Limit your alcohol. Too much easily becomes just empty calories that lower inhibitions and lead to sloppy overeating.
- Get plenty of sleep. Not getting enough can lead to crankiness and other body disruptions that can lead to, yep, overeating and sloth.
- Use smaller plates and glasses, and limit the empty carbohydrates to the treats you truly enjoy.
- Calm down and enjoy yourself. Yes, it’s important to not go crazy with food and too much sitting around the house. But it’s also important to remember that consistency over the long term is key, and you’re not going to wreck your good habits with a second piece of pumpkin pie.
Breaks like holidays are meant to be enjoyed, and they don’t have to throw us off track too hard – as long as we know when to get back on.
Consistency is vital over the long term. That’s what’s going to keep you strong and flexible, with a healthy sense of balance and the ability to enjoy the life you want to live.
Shoot me a message if you have any questions or need more suggestions about getting and staying fit 🙂