Holidays or good form?

Would you believe us if we told you that you can eat chocolate and still be in good shape and happy with your reflection in the mirror? Consistency and regularity are the basis for training and achieving results. What matters is what your habits and lifestyle are in the big picture, because just as one workout doesn't get you in shape, one meal won't nullify all your achievements.

Christmas and the holidays are a beautiful time to spend with your loved ones. A time to be grateful for everything you have and not focus on what you have yet to achieve. Don't let your dreams and goals grow into dissatisfaction. By focusing on what could be different, we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to enjoy what we have already achieved and focus on creating negativity. So take time and allow yourself to enjoy this beautiful moment of peace and don't stress. If you remember these 4 points and apply them to your daily life, you can be sure that you can eat chocolate (or enjoy a Christmas roast) with a peaceful heart and be in good shape.

Movement

Movement, movement, movement – ​​we can't get over it, or around it. Moderate and regular daily exercise is what keeps us healthy and vital for a long time. The engine that is still running is the one that wears out the most.

Spending the holidays with your family doesn't mean you have to sit in your room. But it also doesn't mean you have to do a squat after every bite. Instead, take longer walks together and enjoy the beautiful nature buried under a blanket of snow, have a snowball fight, go skiing or ice skating, and have a snowman building competition. In addition to being active, enjoyable joint activities with family or friends during the Christmas season give good emotions, create a sense of unity, and create beautiful memories, and some of them can even become a nice annual tradition.

Make more conscious food choices

One day of enjoying food will not ruin all the progress and effort. Enjoy, be in the moment and forget about it later. When the drum goes, keep the sticks firmly in your hands. An “all or nothing” attitude towards food is often what leads to unwanted extra pounds. If you try to keep an eye on your diet and exercise throughout the year, the holidays won’t ruin your goals and achievements. What matters is what you do month by month, quarter by quarter, and year by year. What matters is how you continue after the festivities.

Make sure your Christmas table has plenty of greens and vegetables. Treat yourself with juicy tangerines, put vegetables in the oven in addition to roasts, cover the table with platters of fresh vegetables, use olive oil when cooking, and prefer meals instead of snacks. When your stomach is full of wholesome food, you will be less likely to crave various sweets and your hands will not move so quickly to grab something from the table. Another big stumbling block is usually restricting yourself and “punishing” yourself for eating. There are no miracle diets or starvation rituals that work in a week to fit into your favorite clothes for a party. Also, worrying about food in the style of: “God, why did I eat that?” or “Why did I eat so much?” and similar typical regrets are not good for your mental health. Don’t kill yourself the next day with exercise or punish your body by starving yourself. This will only ruin your mood, the holidays, and is a quick one-way ticket to eating disorders and body dysmorphia.

Avoiding rest and underestimating sleep

The pace of life in today's world is so fast and hectic that we often forget to rest. But when else can we do it, if not at the end of the year and during the holidays? People constantly find excuses and obstacles why they can't take time off. Does it sound familiar: “I'll rest when I'm done with this project”, “I'm sleeping in my grave”, “I'll take time for myself when the kids are grown up”, etc. At best, this leads to chronic fatigue and stress, at worst, burnout or some health problem. Yes, active people are successful and achieve a lot, but from time to time you need to be able to enjoy rest. For example, when building muscle mass, development occurs precisely when the muscles rest.

Adequate sleep and sleeping are also greatly underestimated. Members of the “5 o’clock club” sleep too. They simply start their day earlier, but they also end it earlier. Create your own daily rhythm and work from there. Sleep is not something to sacrifice for undone work tasks, household chores, or hobbies. Your body needs sleep to relax, your brain needs sleep to calm down, and your mind needs sleep to develop brilliant ideas the next day. When planning your day, stick to your sleep schedule.

Water environments and spas are also ideal places for relaxation. For example, an infrared sauna helps to remove waste products from the body, improves muscle tone and is an effective cellulite reducer. Jacuzzis and water are ideal for relaxation, as they stimulate blood circulation and reduce muscle and nerve tension. Saunas activate the metabolism and calm the nervous system. All this ensures a calmer mood, better coping with stressful situations and a positive attitude.

Moderation

It all comes down to moderation and balance. No extreme is good – neither extreme overexertion nor doing nothing at all. The principle of moderation applies to absolutely every area. You don't have to eat a whole cake to satisfy your sweet tooth. You don't have to train 7 hours a day 2 days a week to achieve your desired shape. You don't have to deny yourself a Christmas roast and weigh every bite to stay on track. What matters is what you do on a large scale and on a daily basis. If you really can't workout some days, let your body rest and grab your gym bag with you the next morning when you go to work. Learn to listen to your body, but also learn to understand when it just wants to be lazy and when it really needs a day off from training. If you really feel like you want a slice of cake with your coffee today, allow yourself to do it. Enjoy it, be present and in the moment, put down your phone and eat while enjoying it, not in a hurry. Learn to perceive your appetites, but also learn to understand that the term "from time to time" does not equal every lunch break.

Take time to enjoy being in the moment, treat yourself and your health with respect, and don't forget the big picture. Have a beautiful and peaceful holiday season!