Fitness

“Is it Spring Already?”

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Spring on the Mind

Are you thinking about the Springtime? What bathing suit are you going to wear? Where are you going for Spring Break? Let’s be real. Probably not. It’s difficult to think about Spring with Winter right around the corner. The holiday season begins this week! Thanksgiving and Christmas parties are a blast, but they also lead to overeating and weight gain.

I don’t mean to be a buzzkill. I’m just trying to be realistic. Think about it, you can’t wait until the Spring to start getting into shape! Don’t get stuck in the cycle of “maybe next year…” Here are my top 8 rules to stick to in order to get and stay in shape.

8 Rules to Stick to…

  1. I’m going to start with the most obvious. Most of us are aware by now that you can’t cancel out a bad diet with exercise. Calories can add up a lot faster than we can burn them. It’s unfortunate, but true. With that being said, exercise is always a good way to burn off some extra calories. Maintain your current workout routine if you have one. If you don’t, feel free to contact me and we’ll get you a beginner routine that you can do from home or in the gym!
  2. Holiday treats get more and more abundant as Christmas approaches. From cookies in the break room at the office to all of those delicious goodies at the grocery store that call our names. A good rule to stick to is to only indulge at Christmas parties and the holiday’s themselves. Cheating on a healthy diet for a day is way better than cheating for a few months straight.
  3. Before every meal you should drink a large glass of water. This will not only trick your belly into thinking you’re fuller faster, but will also aid in digestion of the food you do eat!
  4. One thing that I like to do at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner is to make sure I get an abundant amount of protein on my plate before anything else. Protein will help you stay fuller, longer, thus keeping you from overindulging in the side items. Of course this doesn’t have to apply to just the holidays. You can try to do this at the parties too. Look for things like shrimp cocktail or deviled eggs.
  5. Portion control will go along way with those high calorie side items. If you want a little bit of everything try a little bit of everything. However, if there’s 3 different version or potatoes, maybe just choose one. A good rule of thumb is put the protein and veggies on your plate first and all of the heavy side items second.
  6. Don’t forget portion control with the dessert either! This is where things can go haywire. Trust me, I know from experience! Stick to the portion control rule. Just a little bit of each, or pick one of your favorites (HELLLLLLO pumpkin pie!)
  7. Alcohol… limit it. I’m not going to tell you not to drink it because, well, that would be crazy. Our favorite alcoholic beverages can be high in calories and lead us to make even more unhealthy choices. It can turn into a splurge real quick. Have one (or 2) and don’t forget to drink a glass of water before each one!
  8. This last rule can make a huge difference. Thanksgiving is like the “season opener” for all things festive! Instead of focusing on all of the food, treats and drinks of the holiday season, focus on activities instead! Sign up for your local Turkey Trot 5k run, play in the leaves, go sledding or ice skating, build a snowman or walk around the neighborhood and admire all of the Christmas lights that your neighbors put up for you to enjoy! When you’re busy being active, you’re not thinking about eating and drinking. When it comes time to eat those holiday dinners, it’ll make you feel a little less guilty!

Moral of the story is enjoy yourself, in moderation. Keep moving and remember to have fun. Enjoy this time with your loved ones, but don’t forget how important your health is! Spring and bikini season will be here before you know it! Don’t let it sneak up on you again.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

If you’re going out of town, this on-the-go workout may be perfect for you!

Until next time…

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I'm an NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist. I worked in a gym setting back in Florida for over 2 years, training one-on-one clients and leading group fitness classes. I absolutely loved it, but once we moved across the country to Colorado, I decided to take the opportunity to pursue a slightly different career! My obsession with exercise and love for writing collided, which is how I became a fitness lifestyle writer.

2 Comments

  1. Kathy Dunagan

    November 23, 2017 at 5:13 pm

    Thanks for the great health tips. Happy Thanksgiving!

    • Chinups_and_Cupcakes

      November 30, 2017 at 1:16 pm

      Hey Kathy! Glad you liked them 🙂 Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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