You vs the holidays: will you come out on top? You vs the holidays: will you come out on top?
Centr Team
02 Dec 2020
Nothing can stop the festive season – and its classic pitfalls – from rolling around again. Turkey coma, we’re looking at you!
No need to hide under the tree. Centr is here with practical tips to help you navigate the seasonal hurdles that can impact your health and well-being, and knock your fitness goals off the rails.
Training in the busiest month of the year
Be realistic about what you can fit in – it’s okay if you adjust expectations for this month. But there are ways to still get some exercise in between road trips, get togethers, and the frantic pace of work.
- Try a quick bonus workout! Schedule it into your calendar early in the morning when it’s least likely to be hijacked by that Christmas shopping you still haven’t done or end-of-year drinks with your colleagues.
- Why not make exercise a part of your family or social time? Head to the park so the kids can hit the swings while you smash a quick bodyweight session. With those cool uncle/aunt/parent vibes you’re giving off, the kids may even want to join in!
- Drinking this season? Make sure you’re factoring that into your workout plan: “Will I be too ‘tired’ for my usual 6am workout with Luke?” The same goes for feasting: factor in those times you may be too loaded up with turkey to get jumping with Bobby or Michael.
Dazzle your nearest and dearest by whipping up some of our delicious Sweet Potato & Salmon Frittatas.
Eat, drink, and be merry – but how much?
Again, it’s okay to adjust your expectations. If denying yourself all the treats of the festive season is going to make you miserable, consider framing December as a ‘maintenance month’ and freeing yourself from the pressure of your personal goals for a few weeks. To stay on track – or at least keep sight of it – these strategies can help.
- Plan your indulgent days or evenings in advance, and try to stick to your standard eating plan outside of those times. Prepping a few simple and freezable healthy meals before the holidays get really busy will help make this easy.
- Need to bring a dish or nibbles? Your friends and family are sure to love your Centr favorites as much as you do. You don’t even have to tell them it’s healthy! For starters, you could whip up a plate of our Moroccan Spiced Turkey Meatballs or Sweet Potato & Salmon Frittatas.
- If you’re planning on enjoying a beverage or two, make sure you read our Booze vs. Food guide beforehand. While it may go down like water, the calories in alcohol quickly add up, just like your favorite snacks. So treat drinking like any other treat: plan for indulgences and consider buying higher-quality booze and drinking less frequently (instead of downing light beers from dawn until dusk).
- Be kind to yourself and enjoy the trappings of the season. Because what’s life without a little fun?
Give yourself the gift of calm
We often treat this time of year as a time to reflect and set goals for the year ahead, but if that is too much right now and you just want to get through the holidays, simply stick to the basics: getting regular exercise, decent sleep and good nutrition.
- Did we mention how important sleep is? Getting enough good-quality sleep will help to ensure you are strong enough to deal with all the bells and whistles of the season.
- Many of us have experienced big changes in our financial situation and priorities. If spending too much is a concern, talk to your partner, and extended family early and come up with a plan to keep costs down. If you are giving gifts, buy thoughtfully or make the sweet-lovers in your crew a gift from the heart.
- They say it’s the most wonderful time of year, but family, finances, travel… it can all add up to be kind of a nightmare. Yoga and meditation can help you get centered and take it all in your stride. Get started early with Tahl’s Patient Flow.
