You will work different muscles, keep your body guessing, and burn calories without it feeling like a chore.The latest stats show that more than 70 percent of Americans are overweight or obese, and while many regain that weight, an important study that tracked successful dieters via the National Weight Control Registry found that over a ten-year period, the majority kept it off. Treat working out as a break from the holiday stress and a way to spend quality time with loved ones by choosing something that’s fun, like a family hike in a local park, an outing to the ice skating rink, or a shopping trip walking around holiday shops and carrying bags! In this way, using the holiday season as a divergence from your typical routine can actually work to your advantage. The holidays can be stressful, which means that focusing on fun fitness is important not only physically, but mentally. Get exercise through fun movement instead of workouts. You will definitely leave room for your mom's famous apple pie, but may skip the tray of cookies that you munch mindlessly but don't really enjoy.
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You'll also find that you make more mindful choices about your splurges. You will naturally have less room for unhealthy choices, without feeling restricted. Flip your mindset by seeking out all of the healthy foods offered at holiday meals and making it a goal to add more of them to your plate. No one likes to feel deprived - and if you focus on all the foods you can't eat at the holiday buffet, that's exactly what you'll feel. Health & Wellness 3 meditative walks that will boost your mood and shift your mindset Focus on adding in healthy foods, not cutting out unhealthy ones. Any form of movement is better than nothing, and there’s always time in the day for a few minutes of exercise - even if it’s just a five-minute stretch or a quick core routine. If finding time for exercise feels overwhelming, keep your workouts short. So what is stopping you from including workouts in the itinerary? Schedule a walk first thing in the morning before joining your family for breakfast or sneak away for a quick HIIT workout before dinner when everyone is lounging around. We all plan trips - flights, excursions, dinner reservations. Make workouts a part of your holiday itinerary. With this mindset, stepping away from family time for a 30-minute workout feels like a gift to yourself, instead of a punishment. Goals keep us focused on the future, and when we keep them in mind, sticking to a plan feels worth it.
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Instead of focusing on the sacrifice - losing an hour lounging on the couch to go out for a jog or missing out on comfort foods by opting for a large helping of veggies at dinner - the focus becomes prioritizing yourself. Why is your diet and fitness routine so important to you? Do you want to be healthy and happy for your kids? Is it essential for your mental health? If you understand the reasoning behind your health goals, it will take less mental effort to stick with it when you are out of your element. Here are some of my mental tricks for keeping your health a priority during the holidays: Determine your reason why.
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It’s all about your mindset as we enter into the holiday season. Whether you’re concerned about gaining weight, losing momentum working toward your health goals, or maintaining your mental health, know that it is possible to stay on track (while loosening the reigns a bit).