The holidays are here. It’s a time of love, cheer and cuddling up by the fire. It’s also a time of mashed potatoes, bread rolls, cookies, mulled wine and pie. So while you may not be baring your bare chest at the beach (Angelenos excluded), you still want to look good naked, right?
If you follow my very simple instructions, you may avoid going into a full on fitness hibernation and emerging after the holidays looking like Santa himself!
Log your food
During the holidays, we inherently eat mindlessly. Many times, we often eat past the point of getting full. Writing down what you eat for every meal raises your consciousness. When that happens you become more in touch with what you are putting into your body, causing you to become less likely to go off the rails. Try the app My Fitness Pal, Lose It or Fat Secret. They’ll keep you on track.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Up your veggies
OK, fine. Have those mashed potatoes but make sure you fill up your plate with veggies. Eat roughage like broccoli, kale and spinach, all super foods which incinerate fat. And note: this does not mean juicing, handsome. Eat.
Water is your friend
Drinking tons of water not only helps you to stay hydrated, but it truly gives you a fuller feeling. I try to fill up on water before I hit the carbs and sugars.
Don’t forego fitness
It’s easy in the warmer weather to gravitate to the gym. When it’s colder, most of us get lazy. It’s time to add structure to your life, so break out your iPhone or Android. When you see time gaps in your day, input GET ASS TO THE GYM. Your friends will be less likely to hear “OMG. I totally forgot the gym this week. I feel so fat!” Take charge stud!
Let’s up the intensity
When your workouts are exciting and challenging, you will be more eager to do them. I suggest joining a boot camp. These high intensity interval training formats push you beyond your comfort zones while shredding fat and building muscle. I have witnessed unbelievable transformations in my classes.
One last thing: I’ve been reading your comments and please know that I firmly believe anyone can accomplish their fitness goals. The body follows the mind and not the other way around. So here is my holiday gift to you: I believe in you, so let’s do this!
The Phoenix Effect, a metabolic bootcamp that gets you in shape fast, is offered exclusively at Mansion Fitness, 7914 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood.
alex
These are pretty sound tips, thanks for the reinforcement!
TrueWords
remember it is 75% diet/eating habits and 25% exercise…
Ease up on the alcohol and keep to a regular sleep pattern…the mind and body will appreciate it..
Blackceo
This is a real tricky time of year for me. Between Halloween and New Years (particularly Thanksgiving to New Years) it’s one holiday party after another. The days are shorter, the weather is colder, and for me who gets most of my exercise playing tennis, rowing, cycling, and jogging the weather doesn’t cooperate. I hate the gym so I pretty much stick to one with a room where I have gym equipment set up. I’ve never been a fan of actually working out, which is why my exercise comes from the aforementioned activities that I like but also have health benefits and keep me in shape.
I have a Puerto Rican mother who is baking up a storm from mid November through January. Then there’s office parties at my company and where my man works, vendors dropping off cookies and pies and cakes, egg nog, increase liquor. I usually add around 5-10 lbs between now and Christmas but then immediately after Christmas do a detox cleanse and up the high intensity working out with a trainer because every January I go to Puerto Rico for 2 weeks for a post holiday season de-stressing and can’t be on the beach lookin a mess.
Those r all good tips though and yes TrueWords, it’s more so eating habits than exercise. I’m gonna try and do better tho with logging what I eat. I haven’t tried that before. Also gonna use the smaller plates instead of normal sized ones.
TrueWords
@Blackceo: I hear you about eating during this 2 month of power eating…but also remember that portions are important and spacing the meals out are also essentials…