The holidays are coming, which means tis the season for all the challenges to your fitness journey. While this time of year can be full of fun and excitement, nothing derails physical activity and nutrition faster than a packed schedule of festivities. It’s more than ok to let things slide during the next few months, but for those who want to keep up their training, it’s important to recognize where the complications arise. Let’s identify the biggest challenges.
Keep An Eye On Your Event Calendar
A packed calendar can challenge your fitness fast. It’s so easy to lose motivation when your free time becomes more precious and your rest time is compromised. Events are fun, but can leave you worn out and pressed for time. Go out, have a great time, and make memories, but remember to leave a little time for your fitness.
Travel Plans Can Definitely Derail You
During the holidays, travel becomes way more prevalent. Of course, we all love a vacation, but it can make fitness a little more difficult to maintain. If you want to keep up your regular workout schedule, you’re going to have to consider things like jet lag, time changes, access to gyms and running routes, and so much more. It’s very possible to keep training through a hectic period of travel, but it’s also easy to get off track as you navigate your trips.
Holiday Food Isn’t Always The Best Fuel
From Halloween on, party food is everywhere. Charcuterie boards, desserts, multi-course meals, breakfast pastries and the like quickly become the new menu. And all those things are fine, but they don’t necessarily lend themselves to solid fuel for working out. Enjoy all of it, but be aware that you might feel sluggish, bloated, or otherwise not at your best for your training sessions.
Cheers For Challenges To Your Fitness
That might be a little sarcastic, but tis the season for fun cocktails. Alcohol is never the best answer for training. A glass of wine or adult beverage won’t be too detrimental, but night after night of celebratory cocktails will definitely take its toll. Stay as hydrated as you can to combat the negative side effects of the booze, but be aware that constant booze will definitely get in the way of your goals.
Seasonal Depression Might Hold You Back
And that’s ok. I admit that I am a person who loves the holidays, but not everyone has the same response. For many, this is a hard time of year, full of emotional triggers and difficult memories. It might be hard to get out for your run or make it to the gym with such heavy feelings. Give yourself grace and take care of yourself. If your fitness has to take a backseat while you care for your well being, so be it. Your running shoes will be waiting for you when you’re ready again.
What challenges your fitness during the holiday season?
Welcome to Fit Five Friday, our linkup!
We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts, and we are ready to link up every Friday to share YOUR weekly fitness favorites! Join My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Who’s ready for some fun?
I posted about this – It’s time and money!!
It’s always busy but often busier now and then fitness is costly and with gifts to buy, it can be a challenge.
Yes, the holidays can make things challenging. One great way to keep yourself motivated and on track is to have a winter race on the horizon. I know that won’t work for everyone (depending on where you live) but in Florida, winter is our racing season!
By the way- my Friday posts seem to join your linkup automatically. Not sure how that’s happening. I don’t mind, but they’re not always running related (this one is, sort of.) I just wanted to point out that I’m not linking them- just in case anyone is wondering why I’m linking my meandering topics to a “Fit Five Friday” group!
I’ve been doing the RW winter run streak for 10 years (I think, LOL), and that helps keep me from over indulging during this time of year. Knowing I have daily fitness on deck is a great motivator to stay hydrated & watch the party food (and drink) consumption.
There are certainly a lot of things that can challenge one’s fitness routine over the holidays! In this context we’re quite fortunate with living abroad, we’re very flexible with how we spend Christmas. Last year we overindulged a bit too much in sweet stuff, and shortly after, I gave up sugar and sweets altogether. I don’t miss it one bit so I suspect this Christmas we’ll mostly keep our usual habits quite a bit with some extras put in of course. I suspect my main challenge will be to get my gym days in between the bank holidays. And when it comes to getting out for walks, there’s always the weather!