Don’t lose your health routine to the vacations

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All the Whos down in Whoville love to go to the gym, they run, they lift, they even do their chins. But sadly, the Whos forget to exercise during the holiday season when the Grinch comes to town. The Grinch brings fat food during his visit, causes stress and chaos and knocks the Whos down. With the Grinch back in town, running, and weight lifting sinking, the Whos become completely exhausted and the workout goes out of their minds.

…. With all my apologies to Doctor Seuss, it seems like we put our health and fitness on hold during the holidays. We tend to gain weight, get stressed out, and all get a little grinchy. Don’t let the Grinch steal your fitness this holiday season. Take time to practice your exercise routine so you can stay happy and keep your weight down.

The holiday season is undoubtedly a time of joy. Unfortunately, the average adult celebrates a little too much during this time of year, resulting in extra baggage as the new year rings in. Celebrations that enjoy extra servings, nibbling on seasonal treats, and little to no exercise time all add to the spike in January diets.

While this time of year can bring added stress and challenges, there are ways to find balance and maintain a healthy lifestyle. While it sometimes seems impossible to bypass the traditional seasonal foods, there are plenty of ways to join the fun without increasing your pants size. There is no need to eliminate or avoid the celebrations. You can have a fabulous time while maintaining your weight and fitness regimen at the same time.

Here is a little craft idea for Christmas. Get one of the spherical ornaments and paint or write the word MODERATION on it. Then hang it on your rearview mirror and check it out every day. Let’s make it the word of the season. That is the secret to a beautiful but also healthy vacation time. With a moderate approach to what you eat (or don’t eat) and how much exercise you (or don’t) get, you can avoid gaining weight AND enjoy all of the fun of this time of year as well. So start this season with a head start into the New Year instead of starting January with extra pounds to lose.

Here are some tips for the hectic vacation weeks:

– Make a game plan: Before the holidays approach you, make a plan on how you can incorporate fitness and good nutrition into your daily life. Evaluate your vacation schedule, then determine how much time you can realistically have available for training.

– Stay out of the company break room: If you work in an office setting, be prepared for the barrage of finger-pointing that your co-workers and other business associates may be eager to share. Tuck your own healthy snacks away in your desk so you won’t be tempted to indulge yourself when your growling stomach calls for a 3pm snack.

– Don’t put your fitness goals on hold until the New Year: if you can’t work out as often as you normally do during that time, adjust accordingly. Don’t use the excuse that you just won’t workout because you don’t have time for your full workout. Instead, accept your limited availability and simply reduce the frequency and / or duration of your training. It is far better to cut fitness time in half than to eliminate it entirely.

– Plan your workouts: mark them on the calendar and take the time to complete them. Think of them as just as important as any other appointment or event that you have marked on your calendar.

– Exercise at Home: You will be more inclined to meet your exercise commitment if you don’t have to go somewhere to get your workout done. Plus, you won’t waste time driving, parking, changing rooms, or waiting for equipment. There are great training videos for home use that require little or no equipment.

– Shop Smart: When running errands or shopping, have some healthy snacks on hand. Then, after you’ve had a big appetite, you won’t be tempted to buy something from the mall food court or fast food restaurant on your way home. Also, park as far from the store as possible so you can walk a little more.

– Focus on socializing: remember that one of the great things about the holidays is hanging out with friends and family. At meetings, spend most of the time having conversations instead of sharing desserts.

With a little forethought of the holidays, you can get through your exercise routine intact and in the same dress size. MODERATION is the key.

Kathy Hansen has over 30 years of health and fitness experience. She can be reached by email at [email protected]