Health & Fitness
Can You Survive December?
This is one of the most challenging times a year for people who are looking to stay in shape and lose weight.
This is one of the most challenging times a year for people who are looking to stay in shape and lose weight. Many times I hear the phrase “after the holidays” I will begin to workout and eat right. I never agree with this decision because it doesn't work. There are too many temptations around this time of year with holiday parties and life can get pretty chaotic.
Another claim people seem to make is that they will be good during holiday parties. This is another lie people tell themselves because if they weren't good for the past 11 months why are they all of a sudden going to be good during the most food driven time of year? Again, it doesn't work. So what does?
How to Survive the Holidays
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Begin working out and eating right well before they ever happen. If you started living a healthy lifestyle in July, the holidays won’t be a problem for you. What I mean by a healthy lifestyle is you are eating 90 percent of your meals as healthy, 10 percent unhealthy, and you are working out 5-6 days a week.
These habits of a healthy life were created in you long before a time of year where food is plentiful and everything served can be considered in the 10% of your meals that would be cheating. It is so much easier to resist when you know what it feels like to be healthy, feel good, and have energy.
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For someone who does lead the healthy life style, my advice is to ease up a little bit and enjoy. Don’t be so strict with your lifestyle. It doesn't matter if you gain a few pounds; they will come off so fast when this time of year is over. You won’t fall off the wagon by putting your guard down for a couple weeks. It is only a problem when this spills over into the new year.
For the people who didn't begin living healthy months ago, my advice to you if you’re truly trying to have the holidays not be a disaster is to cut down on alcohol, sugar (desserts) and heavy carbohydrates (such as pasta). The alcohol not only slows down your metabolism but will probably lead to food cravings of the unhealthy type. Avoiding the sugars and heavy carbohydrates or cutting your portions in half is a smart way too not let that take a toll on your body.
