For Holiday Fitness, Just Keep Going

You heard it. When I asked some of our fitness center members how they coped with the holidays and the usual holiday weight gain, they said just keep going to the gym!

We all know this time of year test our willpower with all the extra goodies that surround us at the office, parties and in our home.

Here are some helpful suggestions you can use to keep yourself from gaining the extra holiday weight.

• Keep going to the fitness center as much as possible. There will be some interruptions in your normal schedule but this should not be an excuse to abandon your commitment to fitness until January 2009.
• An abbreviated workout is still better than none at all. Aim for 30 minutes instead of an hour most days of the week.
• Exercise provides structure. Routines help us stay on track with our food intake.
• Exercise while shopping. Park as far away as possible, take the stairs instead of the escalator. Make a few extra laps around the mall – you might catch a sale you missed the first time around!
• Sign up for personal training. If you commit to taking lessons and have an appointment to exercise, you’ll be sure to be there.
• Don’t be too hard on yourself. If you overindulge at a party or skip a couple of workouts, don’t beat yourself up. Just get back on track and resume your exercise routine.
• Eat breakfast. Listen to your mother! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Not having a healthy breakfast will lead to overeating later.
• Bring a healthy dish. If you are going to a pot luck gathering, bring a healthy dish or appetizer. You’ll know there will be at least one safe dish.
  

The holidays should be a time of maintenance. Don’t try to lose weight, just strive to maintain your pre-holiday weight.

--Jane Reynolds
Health and Fitness Technician
Hospital South Health and Fitness