We can feel it trickling in… the decorations have arrived in the shops, the toy adverts are on every 5 seconds and we may well be starting to panic about the lack of weekends between now and the big day. Now as I see it, we have three options:
- Surrender to the mince pies – whilst having one, may as well have two! Pour a glass of red, write off the evening run and hope for the best. Normality will resume on the 8th of January and we can deal with the 6 extra pounds then (this is me being optimistic at 1lb per week)!
- Reject all party invitations, continue to shop online to avoid temptations, commit to training every single day. It’s only Christmas after all and if I gain a pound, I’ll cry!
- Continue training 2 – 3 times a week and add in an extra session to deal with excess, accept all party invitations (tis the season to be jolly after all!). Get in some stir fries to balance out an extra mince pie here and there!
So number 1) is likely to result in weight gain, 2) you being slightly grumpy with less friends and 3) is the middle road! But why is that middle path of this so-called moderation so hard to find? Here are 5 failproof ways to ensure you enjoy Christmas, without piling on the pounds!
- Do NOT fall off the band wagon yet, it is way TOO early! Have a relaxing week from the 22nd through to the 2nd: a holiday where you can eat and do as you please. A couple weeks of training and you’ll feel fabulous again. 10 days is unlikely to change your weight dramatically… 6 weeks however can be quite a different story!
- Your alcohol intake is likely to go up, but don’t let it sneak into a Wednesday evening at home with the TV. Parties and weekends fair enough, but the rest of the time keep sober 🙂 Alcohol interferes with how your body digests your food, reduces your quality of sleep and is packed full of empty calories.
- Try to reduce the excess – just because you have gone to the beach does not mean that you need to burn yourself to crisp bacon! Enjoy your food, but try to refuse unnecessary second platefuls of food and puddings when your body is saying “PLEASE STOP…”
- Eat when you are hungry. If you have been craving and eyeing up the Stolen all week, allow yourself to have some, but have it when you are hungry. Try not to eat when you are not hungry, the body will ask for the calories when it needs them and then you can enjoy your little treat!
- Feeling gross after a few days of big meals and sweets? Schedule in a workout! The sweat will make you feel better in your skin again. It doesn’t have to be too serious – it could be going dancing or jogging with a pal. Do not wait till the New Year to feel good!
By sticking to these five golden rules, you can rest assured that the Christmas damage will be limited and you can face the New Year thinking about places you want to see and things you want to do rather than pounds you need to shed. Your body deserves CELEBRATION not indigestion and your mind deserves JOY not guilt 🙂 So work hard, play hard and be grateful for the movement that makes food and wine taste so darn good!
Please message me (victoriajonespt@yahoo.co.uk) if you are interested in our Christmas Personal Training gift set for a partner or friend. It could be a godsend in the new year!
