Hitch Fit Living Magazine Volume 9 - November/December 2016 | Page 25

The holiday season has arrived. Family, friends, festivities and food surround us in abundance. During this time of year it is not
uncommon to pack on 5-10 pounds of fat weight, vowing that once the New Year rolls around, exercise and the dreaded “diet” will
begin. This doesn’t have to be your story.
Think you can’t enjoy the holidays and stick with your fitness goals? Think again! Identify your holiday fitness obstacles, and follow
the tips below, and your New Year will begin with an amazing gift…a fit and healthy you!
Obstacle 1. Lack of Time – With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season it’s easy to let health and fitness fall to the lowest
priority. With all the shopping, cooking and holiday parties, you don’t have time to make it to the gym. No problem. There is plenty
that you can do right at home. Commit to doing a minimum of 15 minutes of exercise each day. Alternate between cardiovascular
activities and strength training. For cardio, some options would include, jogging in place, jumping jacks, mountain climbers, burpees,
jump squats, jump rope, or run up and down the stairs in your home. For strength training do 2-3 sets of stationary lunges or squats,
step ups, push-ups, triceps dips and crunches.
Obstacle 2. Lack of Preparation – You are out shopping all day, searching for the perfect gift for your loved one. Before you know
it time has flown by and you haven’t had anything to eat. You are exhausted and head for the closest food court to chow down on the
fastest food you can find. You know these days are bound to come, don’t get caught unprepared! Pack healthy snacks such as turkey or
lean beef jerky, fruit or raw almonds, or whole food protein bars and take them with you when you know you’ll be on the go all day.
Don’t wait until you are starving to eat. When you are faced with having to make a fast food choice, go for a salad loaded with veggies
and fish or chicken, steer clear of creamy dressings and additional fattening toppings.
Obstacle 3. Plentiful Parties – How do you deal with all of the holiday parties loaded with tempting foods and alcohol? If you know
you have a party coming up, continue to eat small meals throughout the day just as you would on a normal day. If you aren’t hungry
going into the party, you will be less likely to overindulge. Be picky. If you choose to indulge in some treats, scope out all choices first,
and only partake in a small amount of that which you will truly enjoy. Moderation is the key!
Obstacle 4. Cooking and Baking - For some, one of the greatest joys of the holidays is the opportunity to cook treats, meals and
goodies for loved ones. Unfortunately many holiday recipes are filled with ingredients that may be counterproductive to your fitness
goals. If you love to cook why not do a favor for your loved ones and yourself, altering your recipes and providing a healthier option?
Make a couple quick switches in your recipes and save on calories. Switch from whole milk to 1% or skim milk, or try non-dairy options
such as unsweetened almond or coconut milk. Instead of using butter swap in applesauce, and for sweetness in recipes, try
substitutions such as yacon syrup, pureed apricots or bananas, or add in raisins or dates.
Obstacle 5. Friendly Saboteurs - You know who I’m talking about. The people who seem to be on a mission to sabotage your
fitness goals. They say things like, “Oh come on, just have one.” Usually these people are friends or family who are not intentionally
trying to hurt you. Your healthy choice may cause them to feel insecure about their choices. In these situations, the best response is “I
don’t want any”. Or even, “No thanks, I don’t like that,” or “It’s not my favorite.” If you say you “can’t” have something, this is much
more difficult for people to accept as an answer. Remember that your choices affect only your body and no one else’s.
Obstacle 6. Lost motivation – Many people lose sight of their fitness goals during the holiday season. Forgetting why they wanted
to lead a more fit and healthy lifestyle. The flurry of activity seems to erase from memory powerful motivators such as health
improvement, weight loss, disease prevention and being a role model for spouse or children. Before your mind gets muddled in holiday
bliss, write down your goals and keep them in a visible location, review them daily in order to focus your mind in a healthy space at the
start of each day.
With the right attitude, a plan of action and the resolve to make healthy choices, this can be your most enjoyable and fitfully rewarding
holiday season yet!