1) Continue to workout! Even if it’s just a 20-30 power walk ‘or’ light jog w/ some core work and stretching a few times per week. Your body and your mind will thank you greatly! During the holidays many people start off with good intentions to workout while they are on vacation & away from their ‘normal routine’. Commit and make a plan for yourself this holiday season – write it down and stick to that plan. NO EXCUSES!
2) Avoid or limit alcohol. Alcohol weakens self-control which can lead to overeating. It is also ’empty calories’ and provides NO nutrition to the human body.
3) Drink LOTS of H2O – During the cooler months we usually tend to drink less water. I made this mistake in Korea one winter (in the field) and paid for it BIG! Dehydration and heat exhaustion is not fun and can take you out of the game for a long time! Be aware of this and increase your water intake to 1/2 your bodyweight in ounces on a daily basis. If you are participating in sporting & rigorous activities drink even more.
4) Holiday meals can sometimes be very BIG & filled with way too many unhealthy calories! Think ‘portion control’ and continue to eat 5-6 small, balanced meals throughout the holiday season. Sure, if you have a sweet tooth and must have Aunt Millie’s famous chocolate chip cookies do so in moderation. Just be sure to set a limit for yourself and don’t fall into that trap of eating the whole batch!
5) Sleep, Rest & De-Stress. During the holiday hustle and bustle it’s easy to get STRESSED OUT! Remember to treat that temple of yours right & give it the rest it needs – daily! Health is # 1, without it you’ve got nothing! The general rule of thumb is 8 hours of sleep per night. The closer you can get to that number the better you will feel!
Remember:
The Average American WILL gain 5-15 lbs. during this holiday season. Being a statistic is a choice. Just as is being AVERAGE ‘or’ EXCELLENT! Follow these tips and you’ll be GOOD TO GO!
Our upcoming BEACH FITNESS BOOT CAMPS kick off in Santa Monica & the South Bay on January 15th.
