How to Get Through the Holiday Season Without Gaining Weight

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How to Get Through the Holiday Season Without Gaining Weight (Part 2)

I don’t know if you’re like me, but I always begin to “lose a little steam” this time of year. With the weather getting cooler, the days getting shorter, and the year quickly coming to an end in just a few short weeks, I start to feel the need to hibernate. I think there is some biological and psychological basis for this, actually. For example, when it gets dark outside, this signals the release of melatonin which causes that sleepy feeling. So, that would explain why I feel so much more tired in the evenings now. I assume I’m not the only one alive who gets like this! Then there’s something about reaching the end of a year that is something akin to reaching the end of a day… it makes you just want to “wind down”. On top of that, I start to feel more “homey”, which usually means feeling the need to snuggle in front of the fireplace with some kind of food or beverage. So, with all of this going on, how in the world do we maintain our health and fitness right now? In my opinion, this is the time of year that it takes a strong amount of determination, discipline, and will power! Fortunately, since my job is pretty much all about living and modeling the fitness lifestyle, I have some built in accountability to stay on my routine. However, this isn’t true for the general public, so you need to have your own built-in motivators. You have to remind yourself why you want to be fit and healthy, and then do whatever you need to do to keep this reminder in front of you to keep you motivated.

I read an article this week that said that on average, people gain a couple of pounds a year. My guess is that it is THIS time of year that the weight gain occurs. I started thinking that if we gain 2 pounds a year without losing it again, then in 5 years – that’s 10 pounds… i.e. one dress size. So, in one decade – that equals 2 dress sizes. If one continues this unchecked throughout their lifetime, just imagine the outcome in his/her health, weight, and fitness. So, I say – emphatically – don’t let this happen to you! It doesn’t matter if you weigh yourself every day, but if you notice that your clothes start to fit snug – that’s when you need to “reign it in” a bit with your eating & really pay close attention to maintaining your exercise regimen. So, if you plan to indulge at Christmas parties this year, just remember to “make up for it” somewhere else. Make healthier choices during the week. Add in a little more activity. Watch your portion sizes. Only eat what you LOVE and/or what you only get once a year. Enjoy your Christmas holidays, but just try to make an effort to be diligent and exercise some self-control so that you can continue with your health and fitness lifestyle. Merry Christmas! Happy New Year, and may 2008 be your healthiest and most fit year ever!!!