The holiday season is a time when many of us drop off on wellness habits like diet and exercise. But maintaining these practices through the holidays prevents you from having to start from zero when the New Year arrives.
Here are seven ways to stay committed to your health without sacrificing the joy of the season.
1. Stay Committed to Yourself
View health maintenance as an act of self-love and a form of giving to yourself during the holidays. When you prioritize your well-being, you show up better for the people around you. This season is about giving, and that starts with giving to yourself.
2. Start Your Health Journey Now
Beginning a fitness routine during the holidays, despite the difficulty, serves as powerful psychological motivation. If you can stay disciplined through the most tempting time of year, you can do it any time. Don't wait for January—start now and carry that momentum into the New Year.
3. Allow for Ebbs and Flows
Balance indulgence with planning. You don't have to be perfect—just intentional. Some practical strategies include extending your intermittent fasting window the day after a big meal, incorporating fasted cardio workouts, and monitoring your evening carbohydrate intake. The goal is balance, not deprivation.
4. Monitor Alcohol Consumption
The body prioritizes metabolizing alcohol over food, meaning anything you eat alongside drinks is more likely to be stored as fat. Try to separate your drinks from your meals, choose wine or spirits over beer when possible, and monitor sugar content in your beverages.
5. Watch Portion Sizes
Drink a full glass of water before eating to help regulate appetite. When you sit down to eat, consume protein first, then vegetables, and finally carbohydrates. Avoid combining fats and carbohydrates simultaneously—this combination is particularly easy for the body to store.
6. Avoid Snacking Between Meals
Instead of grazing throughout the day at holiday gatherings, concentrate your indulgence during designated meals. This approach lets you fully enjoy the food when it counts while giving your body adequate time to process between meals.
7. Manage Expectations
Determine what's realistic for you personally during the holiday period. Maybe it's maintaining your current weight rather than losing. Maybe it's getting three workouts a week instead of five. Set goals that account for the season and give yourself grace.