The holiday season is always a challenge when it comes to maintaining your desired weight. Staying on track seems almost impossible at times. But, it is possible to not only maintain your weight, but even loose weight during the holidays. Here’s some tips for avoiding holiday weight gain.
Tip #1 – Get On Your Scale Twice a Week
You don’t want to obsess over your weight, but you do want to keep tabs on it. Twice per week is a good ratio. Do this first thing in the morning before you eat or drink anything that morning. If you see your weight starting to creep up, it may be time to look deeper at your diet and exercise plans for the next few days.
Tip #2 – Get Your Workouts Done in the Morning
Given how busy the holidays get, starting your day out with a workout is a great way to not only get your blood moving for the day, but studies are starting to show that if you do your workout first thing, rather than waiting to do it in the evenings, you’re less likely to be tempted by food compared to days where you don’t workout.
Tip #3 – Go Ahead and Be Picky
Holiday buffets are the worst. All those choices make it very tempting to load up your plate. So, go ahead and take a look at all the buffet offerings before you start loading your plate up – this way, you can choose only those items that you don’t really want. And, you’re more likely to choose items in moderation as well, keeping down your overall calories.
Tip #4 – Don’t Bank Calories
It’s tempting to “starve” yourself so that you can binge eat at the next event. Bad idea! You’re more likely to overeat at that event, which means your body processes the extra calories into fat. Instead, eat smaller meals before the event, then eat in moderation during that holiday gathering.
Tip #5 – Concentrate Your Workouts
If you don’t have time to get a full workout in, getting in even 15 minutes is better than skipping your workout. Plus, fitting in a small workout twice a day may still help to keep your fitness level up. For example, even 15 minutes jumping rope still burns 150 calories!
And, one of the best ways to keep your weight in check is to take your exercise program into your home. At Fitness 4 Home Superstore, we carry a full range of cardio equipment, home gyms, and fitness accessories that can help you stay in shape throught the holiday season. Visit any of our three Phoenix area locations to learn more!
