The month of December can feel overwhelming when you’re trying to eat healthy. There’s only a few weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and those weeks are often filled with holiday parties, gift shopping, and planning for the next big day. It can be so tempting to give up everything you’ve been doing and start again in the new year.
But what if you could approach December in a new way this year? What if you could get to New Year’s Day without feeling like you’re back at the starting line?
Here are some tips to help you keep your fitness goals on track during the holiday season.
Set yourself up for success
When we start the day strong with movement and a good breakfast, it’s easier to make decisions for the rest of the day that align with your goals.
Not only will eating breakfast set you up to make good food choices later in the day, it might also protect your heart. Skipping breakfast may play a role in increasing your total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the kind that contributes to heart disease) levels1.
Getting your physical activity done in the morning not only ensures that it gets done before the chaos of the day sets in. Morning exercise may also help you make better food choices later in the day and help you sleep better at night2!
Take it one day at a time
After all, each day is exactly that: one day. In the grand scheme of things, getting off track for one day is not going to ruin all the progress you’ve made. Letting that one day become one week and one month and so on might.
Let each day be what it is. Do what you can to make good food and movement decisions but don’t beat yourself up if you don’t check every box every day.
December might be a busy time of year but that doesn’t mean you have to let go of your own health and goals. With a little planning and prioritizing, you can enter the new year ahead of the crowds.
References
- Bonnet JP, Cardel MI, Cellini J, Hu FB, & Guasch-Ferré M. “Breakfast Skipping, Body Composition, and Cardiometabolic Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials.” Obesity, vol. 28, no. 6, 2020, 1098-1109. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oby.22791
- Schumacher LM, Thomas JG, Raynor, HA, Rhodes RE, & Bond DS. “Consistent Morning Exercise May Be Beneficial for Individuals with Obesity.” Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, vol. 48, no. 4, 2020, 201-208. https://journals.lww.com/acsm-essr/fulltext/2020/10000/consistent_morning_exercise_may_be_beneficial_for.7.aspx
