Devise Your Non-Holiday Eating Strategy
It’s o.k. to indulge in the foods you love on holidays and special occasions but how you eat every other day during the holiday season is even more important for weight maintenance. Devise a healthy eating plan that you can follow for the entire holiday season that will keep your body in fat burning mode. Dieting may not be the best option for you at this point but decreasing portions a bit at each meal, increasing your veggie and water intake each day or saving indulgences for special occasions can keep you from gaining 10 pounds of fat and could even help you lose a few extra pounds. Remember that a few holiday dinners do not equal weight gain it’s what you do all the other non-holidays that matters most!
The holidays tend to get super hectic and busy for many women so why add to the stress by dragging yourself to the gym a few times a week for hour long cardio sessions that only burn a few measly calories. The best type of workout when you’re busy, stressed, and trying to prevent weight gain, are quick daily metabolic workouts that elevate fat burning hormones for up to 48 hours. Not only will this help your body burn more calories and fat daily but will save you tons of time too. Get started with this quick fat burning body toning circuit: Warmup with your favorite cardio activity for 5-10 minutes then perform 15 jumping jacks, 15 pushups, 15 dumbbell or resistance band rows (no pink barbie weights, make it count), 15 body weight squats, 15 body weight walking lunges, 15 body weight step-ups, then hold a plank for 30-45 seconds. After one circuit repeat the circuit portion 2-3 more times. Finish up with 5-10 minutes of mobility exercises or flow yoga to release tension and lengthen tight muscles. Try to do this type of workout at least five days per week.
Use Active Recovery to Reduce or Manage Stress
The holidays always seem to bring out the best and the worst in people and never knowing what to expect from family, friends, and co-workers is incredibly stressful which often causes women and men to turn to food or other bad habits that lead to weight gain. Instead of relying on stress reduction strategies that only make the problem worst why not use active recovery to manage stress? Make a list of 10-15 activities that burn calories but are also relaxing. Yoga, bowling, gardening, charity events, a quick game of basketball or a quick video game are all great options. You can also go indoor rock climbing, go to the driving range, help out at your kid’s school, and play Frisbee at the park with your dog, or bike around your neighborhood for a while. Learn to get moving when things get hectic and you will soon find that being active is a much better solution that also boosts your calorie burn!
Prevent holiday weight gain with quick daily workouts like the 10 Minute Solution: 5 Day Get Fit Mix
