Health & the Holidays

You know that feeling when you get home, everything slows down, you just want to eat and drink everything in sight, your family is pressuring you to gain a few pounds while you’re back…or maybe this is all just me being from the south 😅 

But the holidays can be tough. They can throw you off your routine, your regimen, and your daily habits you’ve set in place for yourself.

In my experience, it’s best to dive into the holidays with a few personal rules to stick to. They can vary based on your specific situation, but it’s important to simply set some parameters for yourself.

A sample set of rules:

• Desserts only on Christmas Day

• Can’t miss exercising two days in a row

• Limit alcohol consumption to past 5 PM

They don’t have to be complicated at all…they just need to be something you can stick to so that you can continue your promises to yourself.

A discipline around the holidays will go a long way for your health & fitness goals.

I’ll dive into some other things to keep in mind as the holiday season is upon us…let’s get into it 😃 

Mindful Eating Strategies

Don’t get me wrong…live a little!!! Let yourself have that cookie, that extra meal, that next egg nogg…but do it within reason so that you don’t derail yourself from your long-term goals.

If you can stick to a few small rules in your eating over the holidays, you’ll come out on top. Some example rules:

• Use small plates only when hitting the dinner line

• Don’t take home the leftovers

• Stick to one dessert for the night

• Always make sure to include a veggie on the plate

Smart Fitness Routines

Something I love to keep myself true to is not missing more than two days in a row of exercise during this time. Maybe you need a break and you’re allowing yourself the time to rest and recover, but if you want to keep at the exercise, I like to get in quick and efficient.

My favorite thing to do over the holidays is get out and get my training done first thing in the morning. If I can do that, I can sit back and enjoy the festivities for the rest of the day.

I typically like to stay near the house and do a HIIT workout. I even like to try and get the family involved…I’ll drop a sample workout here anyone can do at home 😁 

*Sprint 30m / Jog 30s Between Each Exercise

• Squats

• Pushups

• Russian Twists

• Lunges

• Incline Pushups

• Toe Touches

• Donkey Kicks

• Dips

• Crunches

We all have big goals heading into 2024…net worth, relationships, career, health & fitness, etc. Moving into the new year, I will be taking on a few clients for personal training. If you’re looking to gain some muscle, drop a few pounds, or just build a lasting health & fitness lifestyle moving into the new year, sign up for a free consultation call below. Let’s see if we can work together!

Healthy Habits Beyond the Holidays

I also see the holidays as a time to reinforce my daily habits and discipline. It’s almost like a test for myself to see what I’m capable of maintaining during a time when most are letting go.

It could be something very simple. You could tell yourself, “I will stick to 3 habits today.” It could be:

• 8 Hours of Sleep

• Constant Hydration

• Take Supplements

If you give yourself a target and stick to it, you’ll build discipline, self-respect, and keep yourself on track to your health goals without derailing.

BUT… it really is the most wonderful time of the year. This is really just a reminder to stick to the little things that keep us healthy, but also remember to enjoy the festivities. Let loose and have some fun 😁 

So here’s to our time with our families and making new memories. And if you’re not with anyone this season, shoot me a message. Would love to wish you a happy holidays 😃 

jake_spotswood

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@jake_spotswood

What sport do I even do #athletics #athlete #fitness #fitness #ai