As the holidays approach, many will decide to take a break from the fitness and nutrition plans they've worked so hard on throughout the year. This will not only cost them progress but motivation to continue after the holidays are over.Everyone must decide for themselves how dedicated they are to their health and fitness goals. Very often I see people give up on them temporarily because they convince themselves they're too busy shopping, decorating, and socializing for the holidays. They're plan is to get started again right after the first of January. Then they'll make a fresh start.
I'm all about moderation and taking the time to enjoy all life has to offer, including the occasional “treat” as might be found at a holiday party, or even a day off from exercise if it falls on a holiday. But by postponing health and fitness, especially for several weeks, it becomes much harder to get back to it. Once the new year rolls around, these same people make excuses. Or, they try to get back into their old routine and realize they've put on weight and have lost a great deal of strength and/or endurance.
With the loss of fitness progress comes a loss of motivation to continue. And again fitness is postponed as soon as even the most minor justification can be found. So my advice is this: don't give up on your fitness goals throughout the holidays. If you cannot make all of your workout days, that's understandable. If it were really important to you, you'd find a way to make them. But even if you can't make them all (perhaps some fall on the holidays themselves), try to make as many days as you can.
Should you miss a day don't chastise yourself, just try twice as hard to get in another day that week. If you miss two days, try four times as hard. Keep health a priority and don't give up on the fitness momentum you've established already. It will be far easier to stay motivated if you keep moving.
The bottom line is there are tons of excuses as to why a person stops exercising and/or eating right. The holidays just present a new set of excuses. Don't use the holidays as justification for lowering the priority of your own health.
Next week's blog entry will discuss healthy holiday treats.
