Surviving the Holidays

We are just four days away from a day where many consume a week’s worth of calories in one day! Thanksgiving is one of my favorites because of food (yes the cranberry sauce in the can is my favorite), football (even though we are stuck with the Lions every year), family and friends. It also marks the start of the busy holiday season. From now until the new year, you will undoubtedly be faced with many unhealthy choices. Goodies in the break room at work and holiday parties with drinks and snacks pose some problems if you’re trying to stay healthy. Today, I want to talk about surviving the holidays, specifically in a manner where you are healthy but still can have fun! Find time to exercise

Listen, exercise is important especially since no matter what you will be consuming more calories. It’s just a matter of fact. Whether that’s going to the gym before or after work and sticking with your routine, to doing the stairs on your lunch break or just doing a 10-minute workout from the Adam Clark Fitness 10-Minute Workout Bible, it’s important to get some form of exercise in. Stick to your routine as best as possible

I’m a creature of habit. It’s just the way I am. We all operate better when we have a routine so do your best to stick with it. Sure, you may miss some workouts and be out a little later at night but sticking to your routine as best as possible will go a long way toward keeping off those holiday pounds. Smaller plates

If you have a big plate, you will most likely fill it up. Grab a smaller plate as that will help prevent you from overdoing it in the calorie department. A bonus would be filling up that small plate with as many healthy options as you can find at the parties. Eat beforehand

If you really don’t want to eat poorly and have parties with unhealthy options to attend, eat beforehand. Fill yourself up with a healthy option that you can control and then you will be less apt to indulge in the unhealthy items. Be realistic

It’s the holidays and it’s going to be super hard to be strict. Many people are all-or-nothing, which I’d advise against, and if they have one bad meal, they will just say to heck with it and not care as they’ve broken their rule of only eating clean. So, give yourself some leeway. Enjoy a drink or two, have a dessert, eat some of that casserole you’ve been craving. A little bit won’t hurt you so set realistic expectations for yourself. Don’t feel guilty

This goes hand-in-hand with being realistic. If you have a cookie, piece of cake, a couple of drinks or some other unhealthy option that will seemingly be within arm’s distance for two months, don’t guilt yourself. After you’ve eaten something, it’s not worth it to beat yourself up. That does you no good. Be thankful

Ultimately, Thanksgiving and the holiday season is a time to be thankful and reflect on how great this year has been. Maybe this year has been challenging and things aren’t going well specifically at the moment, but I’m 100% sure you can find something to be thankful for. I am thankful for everyone in the Adam Clark Fitness community and want to wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving this week.

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