How To Keep Up With Your Fitness Over Christmas | 5 Simple Tips

As they say, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year” ...and we definitely agree. But it’s no secret that it's easy to lose sight of your usual fitness routine, resulting in you feeling a bit like a pig in a blanket by the end of the festive period, and missing your usual routine. 

We are big believers that the festive period is there to be enjoyed, including all of the mince pies, turkey, and chocolate coins you’ve stolen off the tree. But keeping a routine can be really important for feeling good over the festive period, and makes it much easier to stick to your goals come January. 

1. Be realistic

Some days you probably will stay in your pyjamas all day, and have a diet solely consisting of cheese and crackers. But that’s ok! Allowing yourself to have these days and being realistic with your goals will help you to stick to whatever routine you have set for yourself. It avoids the risk of setting unrealistic goals, making sure that as soon as you miss a session, you don’t give up entirely and end up just missing them all. 

Be realistic with your goals, allow yourself off days, and stick to a realistic routine. 

2. Enjoy festive exercise

Going to the gym for an hour doesn’t have to be your only form of exercise. And at this time of year there are so many festive themed activities that allow you to get your steps up and your heart pumping. 

Think long winter walks, wrapped up in a big hat and gloves. Or try ice-skating to work on your core strength and balance. Or, if you’re lucky enough to have a white Christmas, snowball fights and snowman building can definitely form a good half hour of cardio. 

3. Plan

If you know that on Tuesday afternoon, you're spending the day doing Christmas baking and watching festive films, plan your session for the morning. 

And if you know that your family have plans all day on Christmas Eve, make sure to get your workout in the day before. Planning makes sure that you get in the workouts that you know you want to fit in over this period, but also makes sure you’re around for all the festive fun and don’t miss out on a thing. Make sure to prioritise your favourite workouts too, as you may not be able to fit in all of your usual weekly routines.

4. Don’t skip meals

We know that food is a shining star of Christmas. And we all look forward to it every year. But make sure you don’t skip any of your usual meals just because you know there will be so much yummy food on offer. Often, if you deprive yourself of food and are left ravenously hungry by dinner time, you’ll overeat and be left feeling bloated, and probably with a bit of a tummy ache.