The week after Thanksgiving was sort of a blur! Both of my kids were sick, so I was at home and unable to make it to the gym for my workouts. If you are a mom, you know what I mean when I say that I was home for a week, but got NOTHING done! I was going stir crazy, but I did manage to get some exercise in. My options were limited, but I needed to do something. So, I took long walks with the little one in the stroller, and did some weights and body weight resistance exercises at home. It felt good to break a sweat and get some fresh air!
Being stuck at home got me thinking about my strategies for staying on track during this season. It is such a busy time of the year, and it is easy to get derailed if I am not careful. Here are my Top 3 Tips for enjoying the holidays and still being able to button my favorite skinny jeans in January!
1. DON’T try to DEPRIVE yourself of all the yummy holiday treats!
I have tried this route before and it totally backfires. Instead, I let myself have small portions of my favorite things, while balancing it out with healthy options. I think that the holidays are to be enjoyed, and eating things that we only have during this time is part of that! For example, I love a certain type of Christmas cookie that I can only get in New Mexico. If I allow myself to have one or two every day while I am visiting, with my coffee, I am satisfied and less likely to eat 10 of them because I feel deprived! Biscochitos, seriously, try them. They are amazing!
2. After an indulgent meal, get back on it immediately, THE NEXT DAY.
Do a workout, eat clean, and drink lots of water.
3. Keep your workouts CONSISTENT.
It will make you feel better and handle stress better. Even if you can’t make it to the gym, carve out at least 30 minutes daily of something. Taking off too many days of exercising will make it easier to keep putting it off. Reward yourself by buying a fun new accessory or a bright workout top to wear during the holidays!
