Maintain, Don’t Gain: Tips for Staying Fit Into the New Year
There’s a good chance your Holiday celebrations were slightly different this year. Maybe you enjoyed virtual celebrations rather than in-person gatherings or scaling back on the festivities in other ways. But for many people, there’s one thing that didn’t change this year: overindulging in tasty desserts, snacks, drinks, and heavy meals.
All of the extra food and drinks that are shared over the holidays makes it easy to pack on pounds and forgo the regular workout routine you’ve gotten into.
Tips for Staying Fit Into the New Year
But don’t worry! Today we’ve got our top tips for staying fit into the new year.
Hire a coach
If you struggle with staying accountable to your fitness and nutrition goals, there’s nothing quite like hiring a coach to help you stay on track!
The online coaches at Xtend Fitness make it easier than ever to stay accountable to your goals! We’ll be by your (virtual) side each step of the way encouraging you and ensuring you have what you need to be successful.
Keep an eye on portion sizes
There’s no reason to eliminate all of your favorite foods! You can still stay on track and accountable to your goals while enjoying delicious food. The trick is watching your portion sizes.
Stick to a smaller portion, about the size of the palm of your hand, and use the majority of your plate for lean protein and veggies!
Watch out for liquid calories
If you’ve started keeping an eye on your food portion sizes, don’t forget about the liquid calories you consume.
We all like to enjoy some eggnog or other seasonal beverages over the holidays. Moving into the new year, consider drinking low-calorie cocktails instead. Start here with 11 cocktail recipes under 150 calories.
Find a friend
There’s a good chance you know someone with the same goal of staying fit after the holidays. Why not team up with them to help each other stay on track?
Maybe it means meeting up for walks or workouts in the park. Or just checking in each day over text about your workouts and nutrition. This little step is a good way of establishing a support partner in your wellness journey.
Plan ahead
If you are always on the go, a bit of planning ahead is a sure way to help you maintain, not gain this year.
Here are some examples:
- Carry healthy snack options with you like almonds or a granola bar.
- Meal prep your lunches and dinners each week. Try using mainly fibers and lean proteins.
- Bring your own water bottle with you everywhere you go.
And don’t forget! Xtend Fitness is here for you every step of the way. In addition to our online coaching, we also have a great selection of free workouts (and plenty of other tips) on our Facebook page.