I just received the coolest dad in the universe award over the weekend. I let the kids open one present, it just happened to be the Xbox Kinect, with 3 games. Hmm, wonder who just couldn't wait.. It was money very well spent. If you don’t know what the Kinect is, it’s an interactive game system with the Xbox where you have to get up and move around – a lot- to play the games. You don’t hold any controller so it’s complete free motion. The kids and I “worked out” all weekend. I am totally ok with spending money on things that promote health verses gifts that add to a sedentary life or add excess calories. Gives new meaning to “Put your money where your mouth is…” and “It’s the gift that keeps giving…”
I brought that up to give an idea on keeping the holidays healthy. Here are 5 tips for holiday health:
1). Keep your healthy routines!
Typically the last quarter of the year is when people let their healthy routines slide. Don’t do it! I know we wear more clothes and it gives the impression we can hide more. Don’t fall into the trap. Keep up your training, clean eating and positivity. The same vision you began with last January, where is it? You can only seize what you can see, so see yourself fitting into those pair of jeans and still being able to wear the same shirt you wore in April. This season, let’s work on not having one set of larger clothes and one set of skinny clothes. Let’s reach our goals and have a same sized wardrobe that fits your transformed physique!
Remember the 3 C’s: commitment, convenience and consistency. You will have such a jump start in January if you maintain your healthy routines now.
2). Take advantage of the weather.
Make fall fitness fun by getting outdoors! The leaves are changing and it’s a great time for hiking, walking, tennis and simply being outside.
3). Stay focused on categories not calories.
For those 5 ON 5er’s you have heard this before, let’s keep it up and encourage others. For most, we don’t have time to count calories, and focusing on categories is a better option. Here are the 5 categories for eating: water, fruits, veggies, lean proteins and whole grains. By thinking in terms of categories you can actually make more food equal fewer pounds. That’s good news huh? For example, you could have 1 medium size muffin at 720 calories or you can have 1 pineapple, ½ cantaloupe, ½ kiwi fruit, ½ papaya, grapes, 2 pears and 2 whole wheat rolls all totaling the same- 720 calories.
When you are deciding what to eat, if it doesn’t fit into those 5 categories, it doesn’t fit into your routine! Obviously we have Thanksgiving day and Christmas day, and we all deserve a hall pass for those. However, in between those days eat light, eat right and keep it healthy!
4). Keep your brain trained!
Mental training is a must. If you are not training your brain alongside your muscles, you will have a difficult time making it thru difficult times. Take a few minutes every morning and give your brain some stretches. Read motivational material, get inspired, come on- you have to be your own best coach! Your day becomes more tolerable if you establish mental concrete and a mindset of readiness. Getting yourself grounded and focused before you leave the house makes a big difference.
Let me give you some good exercise quotes to work out your brain:
· You are in the habit of rising to the occasion.
· It’s not about things around me changing; it’s about things in me changing.
· It’s easier to maintain a positive attitude than it is to regain one.
· The grass is not greener on the other side, it’s just how you manicure the grass you have.
· I have mental and emotional stability. I will not slow down and will accomplish this goal.
· Work the plan and plan the work.
· Discipline brings freedom! Freedom is the energy of life.
· Your preparation determines your destination!
· Those things which we fear we cannot do, those things we must do.
· Keep your head in the game! Stay focused.
· Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it!
· Your food should be your medicine and your medicine should be your food.
5). Create family holiday fitness traditions.
This is a great time of year to get your family involved in healthy living too! Create some fun fit traditions. Taking a hike together before you cut down the tree, as you shop spend some extra time walking, go caroling, have Sat night game night (Wii or Xbox Kinect is great, things that cause them to get up and move around), do a race event together, walking the neighborhood together viewing Christmas lights, family ski trip, ice skating, take a trip to Great Wolf Lodge (indoor water park and resort in Concord, NC), Thanksgiving day flag football, etc.
Also, if your days seem to just get busier during this season, move your workout to the morning. That way as things do come up, you have already got it done!
I brought that up to give an idea on keeping the holidays healthy. Here are 5 tips for holiday health:
1). Keep your healthy routines!
Typically the last quarter of the year is when people let their healthy routines slide. Don’t do it! I know we wear more clothes and it gives the impression we can hide more. Don’t fall into the trap. Keep up your training, clean eating and positivity. The same vision you began with last January, where is it? You can only seize what you can see, so see yourself fitting into those pair of jeans and still being able to wear the same shirt you wore in April. This season, let’s work on not having one set of larger clothes and one set of skinny clothes. Let’s reach our goals and have a same sized wardrobe that fits your transformed physique!
Remember the 3 C’s: commitment, convenience and consistency. You will have such a jump start in January if you maintain your healthy routines now.
2). Take advantage of the weather.
Make fall fitness fun by getting outdoors! The leaves are changing and it’s a great time for hiking, walking, tennis and simply being outside.
3). Stay focused on categories not calories.
For those 5 ON 5er’s you have heard this before, let’s keep it up and encourage others. For most, we don’t have time to count calories, and focusing on categories is a better option. Here are the 5 categories for eating: water, fruits, veggies, lean proteins and whole grains. By thinking in terms of categories you can actually make more food equal fewer pounds. That’s good news huh? For example, you could have 1 medium size muffin at 720 calories or you can have 1 pineapple, ½ cantaloupe, ½ kiwi fruit, ½ papaya, grapes, 2 pears and 2 whole wheat rolls all totaling the same- 720 calories.
When you are deciding what to eat, if it doesn’t fit into those 5 categories, it doesn’t fit into your routine! Obviously we have Thanksgiving day and Christmas day, and we all deserve a hall pass for those. However, in between those days eat light, eat right and keep it healthy!
4). Keep your brain trained!
Mental training is a must. If you are not training your brain alongside your muscles, you will have a difficult time making it thru difficult times. Take a few minutes every morning and give your brain some stretches. Read motivational material, get inspired, come on- you have to be your own best coach! Your day becomes more tolerable if you establish mental concrete and a mindset of readiness. Getting yourself grounded and focused before you leave the house makes a big difference.
Let me give you some good exercise quotes to work out your brain:
· You are in the habit of rising to the occasion.
· It’s not about things around me changing; it’s about things in me changing.
· It’s easier to maintain a positive attitude than it is to regain one.
· The grass is not greener on the other side, it’s just how you manicure the grass you have.
· I have mental and emotional stability. I will not slow down and will accomplish this goal.
· Work the plan and plan the work.
· Discipline brings freedom! Freedom is the energy of life.
· Your preparation determines your destination!
· Those things which we fear we cannot do, those things we must do.
· Keep your head in the game! Stay focused.
· Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it!
· Your food should be your medicine and your medicine should be your food.
5). Create family holiday fitness traditions.
This is a great time of year to get your family involved in healthy living too! Create some fun fit traditions. Taking a hike together before you cut down the tree, as you shop spend some extra time walking, go caroling, have Sat night game night (Wii or Xbox Kinect is great, things that cause them to get up and move around), do a race event together, walking the neighborhood together viewing Christmas lights, family ski trip, ice skating, take a trip to Great Wolf Lodge (indoor water park and resort in Concord, NC), Thanksgiving day flag football, etc.
Also, if your days seem to just get busier during this season, move your workout to the morning. That way as things do come up, you have already got it done!
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