Navigate the Holidays without Skipping Workouts
The holidays are upon us!
Like eating, exercise can be tricky during the holiday as you weave family, work, travel, an irregular schedule, and holiday celebrations throughout these special weeks.
I want you to enjoy every minute of the holidays while still feeling your best and most energetic! So, let’s talk about intuitive training.
Intuitive training means getting in the exercise that you can during the holiday— listening to your body and adjusting your workout for that day.. Here are three principles to help you navigate your fitness routine.
Principle #1 Respect Your Body
It is important to accept your genetic blueprint. Just as a person who wears a size 8 shoe would not expect to squeeze into a six, it is equally as uncomfortable to have the same expectation with your body.
Respect your body, so you can feel better about who you are. It’s hard to reject an unhelpful diet mentality if you are unrealistic and overly critical about your body shape. So, instead of thinking “This looks terrible” or “I need to lose weight,” remind yourself of all the amazing things you’ve done in this season: what you’ve accomplished at work, how much your kids have grown and learned, and how far you’ve come with food and fitness.
You are beautiful, smart, and driven! Be proud of who you are right now.
Principle #2 Exercise—Feel the Difference
Forget militant exercise over the holidays! There’s a strong possibility that your schedule will be too crazy to stick with a routine. Instead, keep moving to improve your energy and mood.
This is important: rather than concentrating on the caloric impact of exercising, shift your focus to how it feels to move your body and how energized you are when you get moving. You know how good it feels, right?
Psychologically, you feel like you’ve taken care of business and checked something important off your list. Physically, everything about your body is enhanced: your mind is sharper, your mood is improved, and you feel stronger and more flexible.
Thinking like this can make the difference between rolling out of bed for a brisk morning walk or hitting the snooze. If your only goal is to lose weight, it’s usually not motivating enough. And, once you get moving you are ready to keep moving: get in the floor to play with your kids, tackle some of the work around the house, and stay active throughout the day.
Get active and feel the difference!
Principle #3 Work with What You Have Where You Are
Over the holidays, you may not be able to do the exact routine you do while at home during a “normal” week, so consider these travel-friendly recommendations.
If you are following a fitness program make adjustments as needed, lower the reps or intensity and use what you have available don’t just skip it altogether.
If you are traveling away from home over the holidays, focus on movement. Try to walk and stretch every day.
If you are driving, it is easy to throw a kettlebell and your favorite exercise clothes in the car. Have these ready when you get a few minutes during the day. It may mean telling your daughter she can only bring 2 dolls instead of 10 so there is room for your kettlebell or telling your teenager that he can only pack one dystopian novel series to make space for your exercise mat.
Focus on being more active with your family! If someone is shooting hoops, playing tag, walking at the lake, or getting up a game of touch football—join in! These will be fun ways to get moving AND spend time with family. You can be healthy and active without sacrificing time with family.
Ultimately, I want to encourage a mindset of gratitude. If you have just started a routine of healthy eating and exercise, be grateful you started. If you’ve been on this journey for a while, be grateful for the results you’ve gotten. Celebrate all the wonderful victories and accomplishments you have achieved this year.
Focus on what you have accomplished and be proud!