Food and Fitness on the Holidays
I love food. I’m not sure what makes a person “foodie”, but that sounds like who I am. I love food even more when the holiday season creeps in. Once I hear that stores are offering pumpkin spice anything, the little fat kid inside me begins to rage. However, there is a more sensible side of me that knows that tearing through all the season foods will push me further away from my fitness goals and even stunt the physical progress that I have made so far. So as these two opposing forces commence their eternal battle over my taste buds, I try my best to stay sane by sticking to a few guidelines.
– Allow Yourself to Celebrate
· First off relax! It’s a great time to get together with family and friends, so don’t stress out about the food. Celebrate the time of year, but don’t completely abandon your normal lifestyle! It’s easy to get caught up and live in the moment. It will be harder to get back into the swing of things once life gets back to normal!
– Make a Solid Plan!
· If your planned holiday meals are not during the normal times you eat, try to snack before the meal. Don’t starve yourself before the big meal!
· If you’re invited to a dinner party, bring a healthy dish.
· If you slip up, get right back to healthy eating with your next meal. Don’t make the unnecessary mistake to start fasting then start eating junk again because you’re hungry and its convenient.
– Don’t Forget Your Protein and Veggies!
· Try to pack your plate with protein and veggies first. These healthier choices are packed with the essentials your body needs and they are filling which will decrease the temptation to choose the less healthy options.
– If You’re Planning to Drink…
· Alternate that drink with water/LaCroix/Hot Tea.
· Use a wine glass/chalice/Red Solo Cup (smiling) to drink from. It’s a mental game to make you feel like you’re still part of the social element.
· Set a limit and stick to it!
– Increase your exercise!
· Try to get in and do some work as often as you can. If you have a solid routine, you may just lose some weight over the holidays, instead of gain. You may end up missing work outs because of holiday events, so plan ahead. If you have some extra time after the WOD, do the optional work or work on a monostructural element that you dislike immensely, like the Assault Bike!
– Remember the Big Picture
· One meal alone will not undo all of the hard work you put in throughout the year. Your daily physical activity defines your fitness! You will most likely fall into a food coma and suffer from a carb hangover the day after, but you will recover! Don’t get into a slump and turn that one meal into a daily occurrence. Also, try not to beat yourself up about it! Just get back into your normal fitness routine and crush some WODs!
This is a great time of year. Food, Family and Fun! Just add one more “F” word to that sentence and you will stay on track… Fitness.
Stay Healthy, Enjoy the Holiday Season and Remember that Ability is Limitless!