Christmas is a strangely paradoxical time of year for anyone with fitness goals. On the one hand, there is a lot of motivation in sticking to their training and nutrition plans, with Christmas celebrations, go out with old friends and New Year celebrations around the corner.
On the other hand, there's the constant excuse "oh, come on, it's Christmas after all!" than in an elusive way leads to the ruin of the diet. Committing to dieting during Christmas can seem like a difficult choice.
Should I give up the form during the holidays?
Christmas Diet Yes or No?
Christmas is a really extreme time of year in many ways, in which we are being bombarded from all over with tips on all the ways we might spend the holidays.
So it's easy to think that your diet has to be either all or nothing, but sometimes the best way to stick to your plans is to give yourself some respite and work on your Christmas calories.
Will sticking to my diet at Christmas make me boring?
Don't fixate on the food and drink aspects of Christmas. It can be daunting to think that you might be wasting all the hard work you've done, but the beauty of Christmas isn't just gorging yourself like a wineskin.
Walking around the Christmas markets, spending time with loved ones, watching Christmas specials and Mum I missed plane 1, 2 and 3 ... these are the classic Christmas pastimes and you don't need to fill up with food to spend the holidays joyful. You don't have to lock yourself indoors to stay fit.
4 Tips
Here are 4 tips to follow to stay in shape during the holiday season!
1. Sweat
First of all, if you're planning on getting extra calories, step up your cardio workout. If you can't go to the gym because you're going to visit friends or family for Christmas, at least bring your racing gear with you.
This will not only allow you to burn the Christmas cupcake or mulled wine, but it will also remind you of your journey so far, making it less tempting to leave everything aside during the holidays.
Some HIITs are not only very effective for burning fat but also short, so they can easily slip even among the thousands of social commitments. The morning workouts are usually the best to make sure you sweat a little before getting comfortable or distracted.
2. Replace the good for the bad
There are lots of Christmas diets that can satisfy your cravings, including our Christmas flavored whey protein, which are REALLY helpful for limiting calories and boosting your workouts effectively, while adding some Christmas spirit!
If you don't have your alternatives at hand, calorie-tracking apps, such as MyFitnessPal, can help you decide between the various options available.
Combine taste with fitness goals even during the holidays with our protein recipes!
3. Eat, drink and be cheerful
Make sure you are getting plenty of water and enough of the right foods. It might seem obvious, especially if you've been successful with your nutrition plan so far, but it is absurd how quickly one can yield when changing routines during the Christmas period.
As you know, water is the key to make sure your body doesn't think you're hungrier than it actually is. Likewise, getting the right servings of protein and other essential foods in your nutrition plan will help you avoid sugar spikes or slumps that could lead to a binge, and you'll be less tempted to overdo Christmas treats.
Try to keep your routine even during the Christmas holidays and you will then see that you will feel much more motivated to follow your program.
4. Yes realistic
Christmas may also ignite our love of magic and fiction, but Santa Claus will not bring you an improved version of yourself down the fireplace if you cheated relentlessly in your diet and workouts at Christmas.
If you decide to take a break from fitness for the holiday season, you have to accept that you will lose the progress made - it will sound harsh, but be prepared for your usual workout to feel a little harder the first week back, which can help you get back into your routine less abruptly.
Merry Christmas and happy, healthy holidays to all dieters!
