Staying Fit During the Holiday Season

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the Fit After Fifty family!

It’s that time of year again where it’s easy to pack on the pounds.  There’s so much delicious food to be eaten, it can be tough to stay fit.  Delicious smells fill the house, cookies and sweets appear in the workplace, and there are constantly delicious leftovers waiting in the refrigerator.  That pumpkin pie is just so tempting!

Just because it’s the holiday season, it doesn’t give you a free pass for the remaining weeks of the year to over indulge in all of your meals.  Remember that there are a few nights this season where it’s definitely tradition to have a large meal with loved ones,  but it doesn’t give you a free pass to be gluttonous every day!

Use these simple tips to maintain a healthy balance of great food and great fitness this holiday season.

Stay Active

It’s cold outside, there’s rain, snow, and brutal weather depending on where you live.  Bundle up and go for a walk or run outside, or take some fitness classes indoors.  Just because the weather may prevent you from being outside for long, it doesn’t mean it’s an excuse to avoid exercising.  Meals are so much more rewarding when you’ve earned them by having a great workout.

Adequately Hydrate

Our bodies are made of 60% water, and many of us are frequently dehydrated.  Start to cultivate the habit of drinking a glass of water or three first thing in the morning.  It helps your cardiovascular health, promotes healthy skin, better digestion, and helps clear toxins from your body.  Staying properly hydrated also helps prevent you from eating too much.  Many times when we’re thirsty, we tend to eat food, not realizing that it’s water that we actually crave.  When you drink plenty of water, you’ll look great and feel even better!

Walk and Talk

The holiday season is a great time of year because many of us tend to spend more time with our families.  The aunt’s and uncles come to visit, the in-laws are in town (oh no), and there are nieces and nephews running around everywhere.  Instead of staying indoors all the time, why not catch up with friends and family as you take a stroll around town?  Go for a hike, walk around the neighborhood, or get outside and get moving any way that you know how.

Enjoy the Holidays!

Tell your family, friends, and loved ones how much you appreciate them.  The holidays are a time where we can reflect on the year that’s passed, and think about the future.  Spend quality time with the people who are meaningful to you, and don’t let the delicious meals be an excuse to de-rail you from your fitness and health goals.  Appreciate the moment, be present, aware, and engaged with your time, and enjoy the festive season!