I thought it would be good to do a blog on this as I know when we embark on a health journey it can be a challenging time during the festive period especially when you are on a health, weight loss or transformation journey. Society has encouraged alot of us that binge eating during this time is the norm but just because society encourages us it doesn't mean we should, it is all about doing what feels right for you.
For me it has always made total and complete sense over the christmas and new year period! Here is why & my top tips and advice along the way.... Why its still good to train between Christmas and New year time For me when it comes to this sort of time it can be so easy to lose motivation! I've found in my experience speaking with clients between Christmas and New Year tends to be when their motivation will dip the most. Therefore I would encourage anyone including my clients and myself that are on a journey to train during the festive period! Christmas has come and gone but with the new year about to begin there is nothing like setting yourself up with a couple of workouts so you feel good and can get your 2023 kickstarted! I also like to squeeze in a few workouts in the lead up to Xmas too as it really helps me mentally & physically! How I stay motivated over Christmas ..... For me whether it's a holiday, birthday or even Christmas I really find that making a schedule really helps. Being consistent with a schedule and routine is what makes you stick at something not motivation. I do not change my schedule during this time and by doing so I regularly workout which keeps me focused and feeling good during the holidays, because let's be honest there may be a few days where you eat just that little bit more than normal. Which is completely fine btw ;) Why you shouldn't aim to diet or restrict yourself over Christmas... Where people always seem to go wrong is they try to stupidly diet for a whole month and then on Christmas day then end up going totally overboard. A way to prevent going overboard can be just simply do every day as a normal eating day even on Christmas day. Even if you had a little more on Christmas day that doesn't mean you should go back to a restrictive diet or starve yourself by not eating for the next day or days. Do everything as you normally would, enjoy a little extra but keep your structure the same. Why you should steer clear from the scales... Yes it's best to stay away from the scale as this can set you back and make you feel guilty especially if you are a few pounds up. Don't worry if you are a few pounds up, it'll drop back off once you resume your normal eating and training routine. It's no secret that when we indulge a little we sometimes feel guilty.. Don't worry this is a normal feeling but something that can help you is by telling yourself & normalising how one day isn't going to be the source of your weight gain. Therefore having some extra foods, drink and calories is not going to damage all your progress that you've been working hard on during this year! How to enjoy your Christmas and New Year as a balanced lifestyle... Remember training is a part of your lifestyle that keeps you healthy mentally and physically. Putting healthy nutritious foods into your body also plays a role in how you feel mentally and physically. With this in mind try to keep a balanced approach when it comes to those healthy food choices along with the ones that may not have as many nutrient benefits but are always gonna be OK from time to time. Alcohol can also cause us to chase the buzz, reduce endorphin release and can cause mental health issues when consumed in high quantities. With this in mind, go easy and don't go crazy, having a few is a much more sensible way to keep an enjoyable balance! Why Christmas day & New Years won't ruin your progress... As I said before it's important you rationalise and normalise that one day such as Christmas Day and New Years Eve or New Years Day isn't going to detrimentally affect your progress made. Whether you've been training for 3 months, 6 months or a year + all the progress you have made can't simply be undone in one day, always remember this! Don't get caught up in overindulgence for 2-3 weeks as this will begin to make an unhealthy impact in not only how you feel but also your willingness to get back to training. At this point it will start to catch up with you because as we know weight gain does always happen over time within our lifestyle habits and behaviours. All in all when it comes to special times and events it really is everything in moderation. We work hard all year round to enjoy these special moments just like holidays and birthdays etc. Please dont feel guilt at this time of year and go enjoy yourself! I do not believe in restriction or dieting methods around this period because its very unnecessary!!! If I don't do it then I certainly don't want client's doing it or anyone who is trying to create a healthy balanced lifestyle for themselves! A healthy lifestyle really is all about balance & moderation that doesn't leave you restricted, starved or suffering. So if you are eating some chocolate, having some cake, enjoying a few drinks, and having those few extra calories enjoy it! This isn't going to be detrimental to the progress you've already made! I hope anyone reading this blog has found it useful and you all enjoy your Christmas break & New Year!! Love Zo x x
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AuthorZLR Fitness Archives
March 2023
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