Christmas calories: how to stay fit during the festive period
That festive time of year is just around the corner. You’ll have no doubt seen that there are already Christmas products on supermarket shelves and have been since September. It feels as though the UK is skipping Halloween this year and can’t wait to swap summer clothes for jumpers and Santa hats. Whether you love the festivities or hate it, it’s difficult to say no to the mince pies and tubs of Quality Street.
New Year’s resolutions
Food is a big problem all year, but especially during the winter months. We tell ourselves that we only have a hot chocolate to warm up or that more than a few chocolates are due because it’s all part of the celebrations. But before you know it, you’ll be left on New Year’s telling yourself that it’s time to be healthy and get fit.
A significant problem aside from the calories you eat is that simply telling yourself you will get fit isn’t specific enough.
Setting goals
If you want to lose weight, then you need to know how and why. Or if you’re going to build muscle or tone up, you need to ask yourself those same questions. Not being specific enough means you won’t exercising effectively.
Exercise
It’s unrealistic to think that you can stop yourself from eating a few festive treats here and there. You shouldn’t have to either. As with any time of the year or event, it’s all about balance. Burn off more calories than you eat.
New Year’s resolutions are all well and good; there’s nothing wrong with setting goals for yourself, however, why not take some of the stress off and start exercising now. Exercise at any time is fantastic but why not get a head start and hit the gym sooner rather than later? By the time it’s the new year, including exercise into your routine will feel like second nature.
To avoid looking like Santa this Christmas, follow our top tips:
Keep the drinking to a minimum: Alcohol packs more calories than you might realise. The NHS states that ‘a standard glass of wine can contain as many calories as a piece of chocolate’.
Know when to stop: Who doesn’t love sweet treats at Christmas? Food is arguably the best part, so be careful not to overindulge.
Turn off the festive specials: Focus on your food so that you don’t overeat.
Go green: Who doesn’t love roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, and stuffing? Don’t leave them off your plate, but try to eat your fair share of vegetables too.
The bottom line is that you can enjoy Christmas in all its glory but don’t skip the exercise. Sign up for the gym or personal training before January comes around. Why not gift yourself new gym wear for Christmas so that you can exercise in style?
Don’t leave getting fit until the last minute. Probalance can help you to start exercising today and reach your health goals. Get in touch with our expert team today by calling us on 0161 833 4777.