Help Your Health This Christmas
The festive period is here, and with it, the onslaught of mince pies, mulled wine, and of course, the daily delight of your advent calendar (you’re never too old, right?). Whilst this is all very enjoyable, and overindulgence is inevitable, it can sometimes make the prospect of getting back into your normal regime in January a little daunting! So, if you’re someone who struggles to find balance at this time of the year, here are some top tips that you might find helpful…
Stay Active
Whilst it’s important to rest and relax, especially when you’re spending more time with friends and family, the best way to make the transition back to your routine easier come January, is by sticking to some kind of fitness regime. Even doing this at a reduced volume is better than doing nothing, and will help you make room for all that extra food and drink too!
Don’t Stress
Accept that you’ll be indulging more heavily than you would normally with the knowledge that it’s only short-term. Try not to restrict yourself or worry too much about what you’re consuming - Christmas only comes once a year so enjoy it while it lasts!
Make a Plan
Have an idea of how you’re going to get back on track in January. It’s all very well saying that you’ll do something, but if you don’t know how you’ll put your intentions into action then it’s going to be a lot harder. Whether it’s getting a gym membership, personal trainer or training programme (or just simply deciding how many times you’re going to train each week), by setting out how you’re going to achieve your goals it’ll make the whole process much easier.
Gradually Reduce The Treats After The Big Day
The higher volume of sugar consumed over Christmas will make it hard to cut back at the end of the season. Going cold turkey (excuse the pun) and cutting all sweet treats out could result in sugar binges. Besides, with the likelihood of leftovers, cutting out all treats out seems like such a waste! We recommend approaching the chocolate tin with some mindfulness, and slowly reducing the number of treats you have each day once Christmas is over.
A Sightly Less Serious One...
Ask for fitness gifts for Christmas! Whether it’s a new pair of leggings, trainers or a set of resistance bands, these little things can really help motivate you to get back into your training routine when the new year arrives.
This article was written by Lauren Hunter, personal trainer, and health and fitness blogger. For more from Lauren, head to her Instagram, or check out her blog.