T.H.E. Newsletter

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

3 Ways To Stay Fit Over the Holidays


3 Ways to Stay on Your Fitness Path over The Holidays

        The holidays are coming up, and this is the time when 95% of the population will purposely neglect their fitness goals to indulge in the holiday feasts .  They will also make the new year's resolution to get back on track only to go through the cycle again the following year. I call this cycle - rollover resolutions. Just to give you hope, there is a way to stay focused while enjoying the home cooking you're looking forward to. The first thing you have to do is understand the reality of the cycle I mentioned before.  Before you can pursue any objective, you have to be realistic with yourself and identify the problem(s). So it's perfectly fine to admit your plans to eat the honey glazed meats, countless slices of pie and the "patented" dish Granny makes that everyone looks forward to every year. But, we all know there are consequences for our actions if we don't make calculated decisions, and even more if we don't plan ahead. Below are a few things you can do to make the holidays enjoyable and not regretful.   

1) Remember portion control. This is the big one, and it's usually placed on the back burner after you grab your first plate. Eating until you feel like you are going to pop serves no purpose, and it makes absolutely no sense.  Enjoy the feast, but eat with your goals in mind.

2) Start training and following a diet regimen now.  The old saying "stay ready and you won't have to get ready" applies here.  So let's break this down a bit ok? Your resting metabolic rate (RMR) increases when you are active and following a well structured nutrition plan. So it is no surprise that there is a significant difference when comparing the resting metabolic rate of active individuals to inactive individuals.  When you are active, your body is burning calories (or kcals for my technical ones out there) at a much higher rate than if you were to remain inactive.  Start training now and it'll give you another reason to comfortably say yes when Granny offers you some her famous deliciousness...plus saying no to Granny is probably a bad idea anyways.  Deposit that one in your fit bank before waiting until after the holidays to start working out.  If you want to read the full study Click Here

3) Invite Your Family Out to Exercise.  Be a leader! People lose sight of living a healthier lifestyle after they reach a certain age, and they have more of a reason to be active as they get older than when they were younger.  Go for a family power walk if the weather permits, or find an exercise video with simple exercises for all ages.  Now be advised, everyone won't finish and you run the risk of being called some really mean names, but that's expected. Two things will come from this 1) this will be a fun time for everyone. and 2) you are taking the initiative to help change their lives.  Think about all of the ailments associated with age and inactivity, do you really want your relatives to deal with that? And lastly, doing this will help you stay motivated during your fitness journey.

The holidays are right around the corner, and there is no reason you should fall off the wagon when they get here. I hope this helps.

Yours In Fitness,
Derrick White

Total Health Evolution