It’s that time of year again – the holidays are here! The relentless Christmas music and lights everywhere you look might have you feeling all warm and fuzzy, but it’s important to remember to get your fitness in before ringing in the New Year. To make sure you stay fit this Christmas, here are some tips on how you can enjoy the festivities without worrying too much about over-indulging.
Drink Sensibly
Alcohol is an easy way to add extra calories to your daily diet without even realising it. To avoid overindulging this holiday season, try drinking sensibly. While it may be hard not to have a few eggnogs during Christmas gatherings, opting for lower-calorie drinks like light beer or vodka soda can help you stay fit and trim. When possible, choose drinks without added sugar like dry wines or spirits on its own. Mulled Wine is a killer, at around 200 calories a serving, so don’t get too merry knocking them back as it’ll cost you in calories.
Beer
If you knock back pint after pint over the festive season, you can consume a huge amount of calories. An average IPA clocks in at around 200 calories and that number can get even higher depending on ABV. For example, an 8% IPA is about 350 calories, so it’s worth bearing this in mind when you’re stocking your fridge and trying to sneak in a few skinny beers and lagers instead.
Cocktails
Not all cocktails are created equal when it comes to calories. A long island ice tea has about 220 calories per serving, while a margarita clocks in at a whopping 300 calories per serving! But you can still go cocktail mad, just slip in some lower-calorie options like an Aperol Spritz which is around 120 calories, hard seltzers are one of the lowest calorie drinks so stick with those. If you’re making your own, swap out any mixers or soda for diet options as they’re often the most calorific part of a drink.
Maintain Your Routine
That’s alcohol covered, so let’s talk about maintaining your routine. It can be difficult to stick to your normal workout routine when travelling and attending parties and family gatherings during the season, but there are still ways to stay active. Simply getting a walk in each day or doing some low-intensity exercises indoors like yoga or Pilates can be a great way to not fall of the fitness wagon altogether over Christmas. These activities require minimal equipment so they’re perfect for kicking off your fitness routine during the holidays.
Even if you’re not keeping up with your regular routine over Christmas, doing enough every day or every other day will make the New Year’s return to the gym a lot easier!
Eat Healthily
With treats everywhere we turn, it’s easy to indulge more than we should. But don’t forget – healthy eating is key if you want stay slim despite all that chocolate and roast dinners! Try substituting heavier meals with lighter options such as salads and soups, as well as eating smaller portions throughout the day instead of large ones at mealtimes. Switching out sugary desserts for fresh fruit or yogurt can also help lower your calorie intake while still satisfying your sweet tooth cravings! If you’ve got a few special meals planned, try and make sure you’re eating well when you’re not sitting down for one of those, so you can still enjoy food guilt-free.
The festive season is a great time of year but let’s not forget our health goals too! By following these festive fitness tips and controlling our portions throughout Christmas week, we can enjoy ourselves while staying healthy too!
