Merry Fitmas – How to stay on track this festive season

Christmas – ‘Tis the most wonderful time of year, but it is also the most challenging when it comes to staying on track with your health and fitness goals. The temptation hits us way before Christmas day – social gatherings and parties are already on the rise, sleep is on the decrease, and alcohol, sweets and cheese platters seem to be at EVERY function (or at least it feels that way). It doesn’t stop there either, then it’s leftovers – loads of meat, pavlova, cheesecake, pudding, cake; whatever you find yourself having on Christmas day is bound to be filling your fridge for the next few days or more.

So, you’re probably already aware of what’s coming your way this month, but how do you survive the silly season? Here at Glenorchy Health and Fitness we’ve got you covered – here’s our top five tips to avoid the December binge. Have yourself a Merry Fitmas instead!

1. Plan and then plan some more.

If you know you tend to have a non-stop social life this time of year why not do yourself a favour and keep track of your upcoming Christmas events on a calendar or a diary. Mark down the days you’ll be attending gatherings, work parties, BBQ’s – that way you can make sure you are extra organised and mindful of what you are prepping and consuming the other days of the week. Are you a social butterfly and attending an event every second night? If so, perhaps go one step further and plan what events you’ll be treating yourself at and when you need to take it easy. If it’s BYO even better, consider bringing healthier alternatives (raw treats, salads, lean meat, Kombucha – the list goes on). You can also do the same with your exercise regime, if you know you’re likely to be away for some of the holidays, plan your workouts in advance!

2. Mindfulness.

You know when you’re given a box of Cadbury Favourites or a Christmas stocking and you end up eating most of them in a very short period of time? Most likely you weren’t in the moment. Whether it was boredom or you simply aren’t paying attention to how much you are eating or when you are full, it’s simple – listen to your body. It doesn’t stop there though, this time of year many of us tend to be on the go constantly and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed. Take some time to zone out whether that’s Yoga, Balance, meditation, a long walk on the beach, invest in some ‘me time’. You may find when your body gets a chance to destress you’ll be more mindful of your eating habits also.

3. H20.

Whether you drink a little too much alcohol in December or not, water is crucial for staying healthy. It eliminates waste, detoxes and can even keep you fuller for longer. Our tip – if you’re planning to have wine, vodka, beer or soda throughout the day (or over the next few days) make sure you keep a 1-2 litre drink bottle of water by your side and make sure you don’t overdo the fizzy options (for best results).

4. Sharing is caring.

It’s the day after Christmas and you find yourself faced with temptation after temptation – chocolate, cakes, desserts. This makes it a little difficult to get back on track, doesn’t it? Sharing is caring; donate to your friends, family or someone less fortunate. You’ll feel generous doing this, plus out of sight out of mind.

5. Be clever with your leftovers.

You may depart from some of the sweet treats left in your fridge but not all of it needs to go. If you have leftover meat you can use it for cooking salads, keep it simple with meat and veggies, or any other healthier recipes you can think of. Load up on the veggies and you’re good to go. Just avoid overdoing protein that isn’t lean.

We hope this helps you feel less overwhelmed this Christmas – keep active, hydrated and prepared, you’ve got this. Most importantly though, remember to have FUN!

We hope you have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

Have any questions? Visit us at 51 Chapel Street, Glenorchy or contact us on (03) 6272 4849 today.

By Tahlia Higgins.