5 Tips to Staying Fit This Holiday Season

Christmas Cookies

For most, the holiday season means spending time with loved ones, travelling to family gatherings, attending holiday parties and indulging in extravagant dinners. It’s no surprise that with the lack of exercise and constant overeating, many of us see our waistlines expand.

Red and Green Cookies

To help you keep your fitness goals on track, here are 5 tips for the holiday season:

1. Don’t treat the holidays like they’re cheat days.

Everyone has a cheat day once in a while but too many can really set you back on your health goals. As you go into this holiday season, try not to have an ‘all-or-nothing’ mindset. One cookie won’t make or break your health plan but it’s important not to use it as an excuse to overindulge.

2. Find time to get exercise.

You may be used to hitting the gym after work or waking up early for your favourite spin class, but while you visit your family and friends, your options may be limited. The key to keeping active during the holidays is to avoid sitting for prolonged periods of time and to get creative. Consider planning outdoor activities such as walks or hikes to get the whole family moving.

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3. Plan your workout.

Creating a workout plan for the holidays makes it a lot easier to stay on track and achieve your fitness goals. Write out a schedule on paper and you will find it harder to skip out on hitting the gym. If you can’t get to a gym, consider substituting the exercises in your routine with body-weight exercises. Just remember, getting some exercise is always better than getting none.

4. Be the early bird.

If you’re already a morning person, then this one should be easy. Wake up a 45 minutes earlier than you normally would and use this time to sneak in a quick run. If a cold run isn’t on your holiday wish list, consider spending 20 to 30 minutes doing a home workout.

5. Catch up on sleep.

While we often focus on exercise and nutrition, many of us forget how important sleep is to our overall health. Sleep gives our bodies time to recover and build up the muscles used during exercise. Getting enough sleep not only gives you more drive and strength in the gym, but it can make you more efficient and better prepared for your workout. The holidays are a great opportunity to catch up on much needed rest and start 2019 off right.