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Your Holiday Survival Guide

It's here - whether you're ready or not. Just look at the seasonal shelves in your favorite store. Retailers like to call it ‘holiday season' but let's be more accurate – it’s “weight gain” season and it starts now and runs straight through New Year's Day...

These next six weeks will bring ample opportunity for all of us to expand our waistlines.

So why discuss it now just days away from Thanksgiving? Because now is the opportunity to plan for the weeks ahead. Once the craziness begins, you'll be too busy to put a plan into action.

So I want to help you take this moment of clarity, this calm before the storm, to outline a two-part plan that will save your waist from unwanted holiday inches.

Part One: Your Exercise Plan. 

Exercise always seems to be the very last thing people think of doing when they get overwhelmed, and the holiday season is notorious for empty gyms. This year do something different - MAKE yourself to exercise. Making a promise to “try” making it to the gym more simply won't cut it, either. You need to go public. Get others involved to hold you accountable so that you won't drop the ball.

Sign up to work with a personal trainer or health coach - This is the perfect solution for consistent, challenging and effective workouts. You'll get the one-on-one attention and assistance needed to power you through the holidays in better shape than ever - talk about motivating!

Join a class – Many folks aren't be as effective exercising on their own during the busy holiday season, so joining a class for accountability is a perfect solution. Find something you will enjoy and gets your heart rate up.

Get a serious exercise buddy – I’m not talking giant, Conan the Barbarian type, but someone who is disciplined about their routine. Some friends can be an awesome help but if they lack the discipline they’ll end up pulling you down. So, if you've decided to find an exercise buddy, it’s important to answer the following questions:

  • Do they share your fitness goals?
  • Are they fairly encouraging?
  • Do they give up easily? 
  • Are they at your fitness level?

Part Two: Your Diet Plan.

It’s no secret, the holidays offer ample opportunities to indulge, so it is imperative that you hammer down some guidelines before hitting that buffet line. I'm not to go all Grinch and say you should go completely cold turkey from any seasonal treats, I do want you to use the ‘M’ word - moderation.

Don't use the holidays as an excuse to pork out – even Santa doesn’t want that bloated feeling!

As for the pot-luck get-together? Go small… Giant platters and deserts can make stunning presentations, but so can mini individualized foods. Plus, if you limit what you bring you’ll also be limiting (or preferably avoid) your take-home share of leftovers. Less leftovers means less weight stored on the belly. In fact, do everyone a favor this year by not gifting fattening treats.

When faced with a buffet line, I always recommend loading your plate first with greens, vegetables and lean meats before breads and heavier foods. Also keep alcoholic beverages to a 2-drink maximum.

Speaking of alcoholic beverages, beware of holiday drinks! Most of these festive concoctions are stuffed with extra calories. Yup, hot holiday drinks from coffee shops, cocktails at parties and creamy eggnog are all very enjoyable and all filled with empty calories – but, then again, you already knew that didn't cha? ;-)

Everywhere you go during the holiday season brings you face-to-face with a plates and trays of temptation, but you don't have to gain weight this holiday season. The key is your mindset.

If you approach the holidays with the mindset of, 'I deserve to indulge and I shouldn't have to exercise' then you'll enter 2015 a few pounds heavier, a little less healthy, and with lower energy than ever before.

I believe that you can do better. You deserve better! I believe that you can enter 2015 in better shape than you are today, healthier than you've been in a long time, and with more energy than you thought possible.

I'm here to help - If you would like to have more support I encourage you to schedule a complimentary "Let's Talk" Strategy consultation with me.

Starting out doesn't have to be intimidating. Achieving success begins with a thought out plan that's tailored to your individual needs - and that’s where I can help. Schedule yours now.

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