I usually write blogs on health and fitness, so naturally I had to come up with a Christmas song related to fitness. This one is an original to be sung to the tune of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”! I thought this fitmas song would put you in a healthy holiday spirit.
On the first day of Christmas my trainer gave to me, a challenge to be healthy!
On the second day of Christmas my trainer gave to me, two shiny dumbbells, and a challenge to be healthy!
On the third day of Christmas my trainer gave to me, three days of soreness, two shiny dumbbells, and a challenge to be healthy!
On the fourth day of Christmas my trainer gave to me, four sets of squats, three days of soreness, two shiny dumbbells, and a challenge to be healthy!
On the fifth day of Christmas my trainer gave to me, five workout days, four sets of squats, three days of soreness, two shiny dumbbells, and a challenge to be healthy!
On the sixth day of Christmas my trainer gave to me, six pack of abs, five workout days, four sets of squats, three days of soreness, two shiny dumbbells, and a challenge to be healthy!
On the seventh day of Christmas my trainer gave to me, seven days of protein shakes, six pack of abs, five workout days, four sets of squats, three days of soreness, two shiny dumbbells, and a challenge to be healthy!
On the eighth day of Christmas my trainer gave to me, eight hours of sleeping, seven days of protein shakes, six pack of abs, five workout days, four sets of squats, three days of soreness, two shiny dumbbells, and a challenge to be healthy!
On the ninth day of Christmas, my trainer gave to me, nine workout songs, eight hours of sleeping, seven days of protein shakes, six pack of abs, five workout days, four sets of squats, three days of soreness, two shiny dumbbells, and a challenge to be healthy!
On the tenth day of Christmas my trainer gave to me, ten trainers training, nine workout songs, eight hours of sleeping, seven days of protein shakes, six pack of abs, five workout days, four sets of squats, three days of soreness, two shiny dumbbells, and a challenge to be healthy!
On the eleventh day of Christmas my trainer gave to me, eleven nutrition tips, ten trainers training, nine workout songs, eight hours of sleeping, seven days of protein shakes, six pack of abs, five workout days, four sets of squats, three days of soreness, two shiny dumbbells, and a challenge to be healthy!
On the twelfth day of Christmas my trainer gave to me, twelve months of training, eleven nutrition tips, ten trainers training, nine workout songs, eight hours of sleeping, seven days of protein shakes, six pack of abs, five workout days, four sets of squats, three days of soreness, two shiny dumbbells, and a challenge to be healthy!
Did you know that the average person gains seven to ten pounds during the holiday season? Yep! We get into the “I’ll wait ’til New Year’s” mentality, and that means no healthy food or workouts for at least six weeks. It’s almost like we accept we’re going to gain weight every holiday season, but why put our health on the back burner and gain weight when it’s not necessary?
Most people I talk to just want to survive this holiday season. I say, let’s change our mindset and thrive this holiday season!
Celebration doesn’t have to mean extreme gluttonous eating, or the opposite end—deprivation. It’s time to bring our focus back to the true purpose of the season, enjoying our friends and family and the traditions of the holidays. This may not be the ideal time to lose weight, but it doesn’t have to be a time to lose our health either. The key is to be mindful and to go into the holidays with a plan.
Here are my top holiday tips to thrive this fitmas season.
Consistent Workouts
Holidays are a busy time of year where most people are traveling, entertaining, and more. That’s not an excuse to give up your regular workout program. The key is modification. If you normally workout at the gym for an hour and you’re short on time, do a ten-to-thirty-minute home workout. You can find tons of fast and efficient workouts on YouTube or Beachbody on Demand that work just as good as your gym or studio workout. I usually type in something like, “30 minute yoga” or “30 minute cardio” depending on what I’m in the mood for.
Plus, being active will give you more energy and help burn any extra calories you might indulge in. Even a ten-minute workout is better than nothing. If you can’t do your regular workout, find a modification. Something is better than nothing.
Realistic Nutrition
If I can give you my biggest piece of advice this holiday season, it’s to avoid the “all or nothing approach.” What I mean by that is…it seems that a lot of times people will either do full-on holiday binge eating like it’s their last meal or they’ll do the opposite—not touch anything decadent at all during the holiday season. There has to be balance.
Eat healthy quality nutrition for the most part, and then indulge in your favorite foods in moderation. For example, the week of Thanksgiving, I ate healthy, real, whole foods to fight inflammation and worked out thirty to sixty minutes either at home, the gym, or outside. Then when Thanksgiving got here, I was thrilled to eat my favorite foods. I didn’t binge eat though! I got small portions of my favorite foods. I ate slowly and savored each dish bite by bite.
There’s an old saying that I keep in mind: “Taste everything, eat nothing.” You can have a few bites of ten dishes, and trust me. It will add up. But it’s better than eating ten full servings at one meal.
Hydrate
This is my number-one rule, and I will say it again and again—drink water! Drink at least half your body weight in ounces. If you drink caffeine or alcohol or if you work out regularly, then you’ll need more water to replace what is lost. Drinking water is so important to our bodies. It maintains the balance of fluids. When your body is properly hydrated, you’ll perform better and think better. It makes your skin glow, prevents headaches, and flushes out toxins. Feeling thirsty? Drink up!
Sleep
You snooze, you lose. Lose weight that is. The more sleep you get, the better your body will function. Healthy sleeping patterns help regulate your hormones and are involved with the healing and repairing of your blood vessels, which helps regulate your blood pressure. Getting enough sleep also helps your brain think and react faster. It gives you energy so you can perform daily tasks more efficiently. Try to get in seven to eight hours consistently so you can look and feel good throughout this busy holiday season.
Give Back
Whether you’re volunteering your time or money. Studies say giving back is good for your mental and physical health. Helping out your favorite cause is great for elevating your mood and improving your well-being. You can appreciate where you are now in life and it helps you see a new perspective. So go out there and find a charity or a cause that speaks to you and give back.
Just Say No
During the holiday season, a lot of times we get pulled in every direction. From work, to home, to holiday parties, and more. The trick is learning to just say no. You will stress yourself out by overcommitting to too many things. I’ve done it too many times, and by the end of the holiday season, I feel downright grinchy. Try to pick what’s important to you and your family. What’s a priority for you and your family. The past few years, I’ve looked at my schedule and added what was important so that I can enjoy me, my family, and my friends without stress.
Don’t Stress
There’s so much unnecessary stress that happens during the holiday season from traveling, buying gifts, decorating, cooking, shopping, and more. Chronic stress will lead to bad habits like overeating and overdrinking. It raises your cortisol levels and raises your blood pressure. The holidays are a time that is meant to be enjoyed. Try to replace a bad habit with a healthy habit. Instead of reaching for a cocktail, try to take a bubble bath and read a book. Or maybe after your workout, drink a fresh green juice. The holidays are all about enjoying your time with friends and family. Don’t stress over the small stuff.
The holiday season may not be a time to lose weight, but it doesn’t have to be a time to lose your health either. The key is to be mindful and go into the holidays with a plan. I hope you all enjoy this most wonderful time of the year.
Happy Holidays!
Marzia
