Update: Congrats to Nanette R. for winning this giveaway!
I am not a fitness expert. I have never run a marathon (or a half marathon).
But I do have friends who go to the gym. And occasionally I go with them.
We are the people, possibly like you, who are doing our best. Do we crave Mexican food or eat a piece of office party cake once in a while? Sure. We don’t always get the fitness thing right, but we try. And we pump each other up when we need to get back on track by passing these tips back and forth as needed for moral support.
- Drink water. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You’ve heard it before. But there’s a reason for that—water is incredibly important to your health on so many levels! Drinking water suppresses your appetite, helps your body burn stored fat, flushes toxins, energizes muscles, promotes clear thinking, and much, much more. Keep a water bottle in your car and at your desk to help you stay on track.
- Treat each meal like it’s a new opportunity (starting now). So you had one too many sausage balls at the office Christmas potluck. That happened, and that is over. Make different choices at your very next meal. The mindset of “I’ve already blown it today…” is a fat trap! Each meal is a new starting point. Give yourself a break if you make a bad choice, but don’t use one bad decision to justify the next. On the same note, thinking, I’ll get back on track after the holidays… is diet suicide. Start now. Even a small start is a start.
- Eat this, not that. OK. The holidays are just getting started. You can still eat, drink, and be merry this season without totally sabotaging yourself. How? By making good choices. Opt for protein packed party fare rather than the carb-and-sugar snacks. And let yourself have a few bites of whatever it is you enjoy indulging in most. It’s the holidays! There’s no need to completely deprive yourself of your favorites. Everything in moderation (including moderation).
- Ask for exercise attire. Sometimes new running shoes really do make you feel lighter and more agile. Add a few pieces of workout gear to your Christmas wish list. Clothes and shoes that make you feel good really can motivate you to get moving. And if not, at least you’ll have a new favorite pair of stretchy pants to wear after big meals.
Do you have any holiday diet survival tips? Leave us a comment with your tip (or favorite holiday food indulgence) to be entered to win this fabulous water bottle and yoga mat.
By entering today’s giveaway, you acknowledge Lifeway Christian Resource’s official promotion rules. Today’s giveaway starts at the posting time of this blog and ends next Tuesday (12/10/13) at 11:59 p.m. CST. You must be 18 to enter, and you may only enter once. The winner will be selected at random. For questions about the rules and regulations of this giveaway, please contact Bud Harlan at One Lifeway Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-140.