This post is all about how to stay healthy during the holidays.
Staying fit and eating healthy through the holidays can be a struggle for many people… However, it doesn’t have to be!
As a personal trainer and a self-diagnosed health nut 🤪, I’ve learned that I don’t have to choose either or!… (Either enjoying the holidays OR being healthy and staying fit…) I can do both! And so can you.
That’s exactly what this post is going to show you! Below you’ll learn the simple, and super practical tips for healthy holiday eating and fitness so you don’t feel like you’re moving backwards during the holidays. You’ll be able to enjoy them while feeling really good, staying energized, and still meeting your fitness goals!
Healthy holidays… Here you come!
This post is all about how to stay healthy during the holidays.
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How to Stay Healthy During the Holidays
What are the 8 tips for staying fit during the holidays?
Healthy Holidays Tip #1:
Don’t skip out on your workouts.
When I was younger, and before I became a personal trainer, for some reason I had this notion in my head that working out during the holidays was pointless since I was going to be eating bad anyway….
Wrong answer!
I learned this the hard way….
One holiday season, after months and months of tough training to get the physical results I wanted, I decided to “take a break” during the holiday months. (Insert face palm emoji!!)
When I finally came back to my training program in January, not only had I lost almost all the strength and muscle I’d worked so hard for… But it was also extremely difficult on my cardiovascular system to get back in the groove.
I legit felt like I was starting back at square one.
I remember at that point telling myself “NEVER AGAIN.”
Never again will I skip out on exercise for any given length of time! Not worth it!!
Even if you’re going to splurge some on your food during the holidays, you’ll still be in way better shape if you keep working out than if you don’t.
Healthy Holidays Tip #2:
Drop the all-or-nothing mindset.
This goes hand in hand with tip #1.
Trust me, I get it… I’ve always considered myself an “all or nothing” person, but sometimes when it comes to health and fitness, we simply cannot be that way if we want to enjoy life and also not lose our hard-earned results.
Learn the difference between a diet vs. a healthy lifestyle so you can enjoy some moderation and give yourself tons of grace, while also doing what you can to stay healthy during this time.
Healthy Holidays Tip #3:
Pick your alcohol days.
Let’s be honest, the holiday season is a big one for fun alcoholic beverages, and it can be really easy to make drinking an everyday thing during this time.
You’ll be doing yourself a massive favor by choosing your alcohol days, whether it’s just the weekends or the weekends + one week night.
These are just a few examples.
You can also do this in the reverse where you choose your NON-alcohol days. For example, you could set a boundary that you don’t have any alcohol on MWF or Sundays. Or weekdays.
Find what works for your schedule and stick with it!
Healthy Holidays Tip #4:
Move a little more.
It’s natural to move less in the wintertime. Try and find some activities you enjoy that’ll help you move your body! Whether it’s an indoor home workout or a class at the gym… Strive to get anywhere between 8-10,000 steps per day and this will help majorly with preventing weight gain during the holidays!
Healthy Holidays Tip #5:
Plan ahead for your travels.
What are some easy things you can do to stay healthy while traveling?
Here are a few ideas… Bring your own healthy snacks to the airport so you’re not limited to processed airport foods.
Pack your workout clothes and make a plan ahead of time for how you’re going to exercise while you’re gone, even if it’s just a 30-minute morning walk or a bodyweight workout.
Always travel with your protein powder and supplements.
Healthy Holidays Tip #6:
Practice moderation and choose wisely what you want to splurge on with your food.
You can follow my 5 realistic holiday healthy eating tips for help! These tips honestly make things so easy and allow you to enjoy yourself, without ruining your hard work.
Healthy Holidays Tip #7:
Prep your meals ahead of time.
The holidays can be crazy busy!
Prep your foods and stick them in the fridge so you always have something healthy to grab and are never forced to grab a quick and less-healthy option.
Healthy Holidays Tip #8:
Remember your “why.”
It can be really tempting to give in to what other people are doing or what they want you to do when it comes to food and drink… Especially during the holidays when there are so many delicacies available in abundance!
Try not to worry about what other people are doing, and remember why YOU want to be healthy in the first place. Just because they may not care about it, doesn’t mean you don’t.
Remember, you don’t owe anyone an explanation for anything you do. And simply saying “no thank you” or “I’m good” is enough!
Also read these healthy lifestyle tips for other practical ideas!
How do you stay healthy during Christmas break?
Follow the 8 healthy holidays tips above along with these simple (and actually realistic) tips for healthy holiday eating, and you’ll be in good shape!
How do you stay mentally healthy over the holidays?
Sometimes it can be easy to drift into a funk during the holidays… This can be caused by a loss or even the simple things like lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet.
Follow the healthy holiday tips in this post to ensure you’re keeping your body healthy, and you’ll be amazed at how your mind and spirit will follow!
Also be sure to get some sunshine every chance you can. That vitamin D will do wonders for your mood and mental health!
I hope this post helps you understand how to stay healthy during the holidays! Feel free to comment below if you have any questions!
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