How to Stay on Track during the Holidays

1. Sign up for a run

Sign up for a 5- or 10K that’s taking place a few days after Christmas. You’ll have to train to be able to run well, so you’ll train throughout the holidays, and you’ll have another incentive to keep you from overeating.

2. Bring Tupperware

It’s the abundance of food that makes us overeat at this time of year. My advice would be to fill your plate as you usually do, and then scrape half of it into a Tupperware container. You don’t need all that food, you want all that food, but you definitely don’t need it.

3. Plate plan

Speaking of what’s on your plate, try and plan it out. You want your plate to be half veggies, quarter protein, and quarter starch (unless you’re on a low-carb or high-protein diet). Having this in the back of your mind will make it easier to know how to choose what’s on your plate.

4. Go easy on the drinks

For a lot of us festive = booze, but it doesn’t have to be. If you do drink and want to drink through the festive season, opt for lower calorie, lower sugar drinks, like champagne, and avoid the sugary drinks or anything pre-made.

5. Try intermittent fasting

The holiday season is actually the perfect time to try intermittent fasting. Whether you opt to do 5:2 fasting, where you limit your calories two days a week and eat your usual calorie goal the other five, or whether you opt for 16:8, where you only eat within a specific 8 hour window during the day, this is a pretty easy way to stop yourself overdoing it on food.

6. Pre-book classes

There are a whole host of gyms and fitness studios that charge your card if you no-show classes you pre-booked. Sign up for all your classes through December and January and you’ll have an added incentive not to skip the gym!