Life changes this time of year with family gatherings, shifting schedules, different eating habits, and never ending social commitments. The holiday season is full of tidings of comfort and joy and stress!
It's common knowledge, that stress is a major contributor to weight gain and the tendency to pair every holiday celebration with unhealthy eats doesn't help. Most Americans gain 1-2 lbs between Thanksgiving and New Years that they never lose. While 1-2lbs doesn't sound like much, over time it starts to add up. At Woohoo we keep track of news related to nutrition, health, and exercise and we found this great article that discusses annual weight and gives suggestions on how to keep yourself on track.
Additionally, here are some tips on how to fight seasonal stress and avoid gaining holiday weight.
Create rules for yourself around your eating:
The first step is realizing you don't have to eat with the crowd. Just because everybody around you is going crazy with cocktails at the holiday office party, doesn't mean that you have to follow suit.
However resolving to eat better and expecting to succeed through sheer will power is difficult. If you create simple rules for yourself around eating, you'll find maintaining your pre holiday weight much easier. Our last blog described the Woohoo Healthy Holiday Challenge where we explain our nutritional plan for this holiday season. By making one positive nutritional change: getting rid of refined sugar, ditching alcohol, going gluten free, cuting out fried food, of improving portioning you'll take a big step towards fighting holiday weight gain.
Exercise to fight the stress:
The Woohoo Fit studio is a little empty, in December, as our participant's schedules fill up with other commitments. It's unfortunate that people slow down on their exercise routines this time of year, because exercise is a huge stress buster. By coming into Woohoo group classes and private sessions you get to work off the tension, and burn off some of those extra calories at the same time. There is nothing like a post workout endorphin rush to get you through hosting your holiday party with smile.
Try Woohoo workouts with the family!
Another great technique is to get moving while spending some quality time with the family. Take Woohoo workouts home with you. Was there an exercise from class that you really enjoyed? Try doing with the whole family. Or have the kids challenge Uncle John to a push up contest and see who can hit more reps.
Happy Holidays from Woohoo Fit!
Questions, comments, want to run your idea by the expert? You can reach Eva Bramwell at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
