Holiday Diet & Fitness: Simplified

Image from Pinterest

Holiday season has crept up on us and it's a short one this year. I honestly don't even have my tree up yet. I've been in and out of town, busy playing dance mom during Nutcracker season, and the hustle and bustle of everyday life continues on. There are a lot of you out there that may have gained a little during this season (including myself-holiday carbs have added holiday bloat) and you may want to make excuses or put off shedding the weight. My answer: DON'T. It's so easy to give yourself a free pass, because you can hide it under winter layers, because you still have Christmas and New Year's parties to go to, etc. It's much easier to stay ahead of it all by maintaining or even (gasp!) upping the intensity of your workouts. I know your time is limited. You can workout anywhere and make yourself shake and burn. With Pinterest, YouTube, and all of the websites out there you can surely find one to work in15 minutes. My advice? Do it first thing in the morning before your day gets in the way and you have the chance to make excuses on why you don't have time. During lunch, work in a walk instead of staying inside (as a plus, you may get some vitamin D if the sun is out and that will help to fight off the flu, too!). 

As for me, I'm working in extra intense bursts of strength training all throughout my day, even if it is for just a minute or two. Little by little, a little means a lot. Every little bit gets you closer to your goals, so even if it's just a minute make it count and do some push ups, air squats, lunges, core work, etc. 

And remember, you control what is on your plate and how much you eat of it. Take less than you think you are going to eat. We all get big eyes at holiday parties, especially buffet style. Don't forget to eat an extra dense meal, high in fiber (like steamed veggies), to keep your appetite at bay before you step out. Chase each cocktail and/or plate of food with 8 oz. of water to keep things in moderation & balance. And you just may come out alive. :)