‘Tis The Season… For Gaining Weight?!
by Jane Sandwood
Nativity scenes, Advent services, gathering with friends and family over a big meal: all things that are once more upon us as the holiday season approaches. This time of year is full of winter activities, parties, and plenty of opportunities to have fun – usually with the addition of at least one holiday food or drink: hot chocolate after ice skating? Yes please. Canapés at the work Christmas party? Certainly. Cookies after the church service? Oh go on then. At this time of year it’s all too easy to say yes to the wrong sort of food and no to your regular exercise regime, but as 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 reminds us, our body is a temple to God – and it is our duty to take the best care of it we can.
Packing On The Pounds
Celebrating with family over a large meal is a holiday tradition that many follow all over the world, but you may not realize the full extent of the damage it can do to your waistline. A lot of us put on a few lbs over the season, but recent research shows that by the time summer rolls around the average person is still carrying half of those extra pounds, and the more you put on the more you are likely to keep! Make sure that you don’t become one of those ‘average’ statistics by sticking to smaller portion sizes of calorific dishes, and ensuring you have a large salad or serving of veggies to go alongside – that way you can still enjoy your holiday favourites, just in a slightly healthier way.
Get Creative
All the disruption to your routine can make it hard to fit in your usual fitness programme, but that doesn’t mean that you should give up! Get creative and think outside the box to get your exercise in: you don’t always need a gym – outdoor workouts can be fun, and a great way to exercise all together as a family. Wrap up warm and take a trip to the park with your kids – it’s amazing how many pieces of play equipment you can incorporate into a body weight workout! If you’re travelling over the holiday season then check before hand to see if the hotel you’re staying at has a gym. If not then pull up an online workout – many can be done with no equipment at all, or just a couple of suitcase-friendly items like small hand-weights and a resistance band. If all else fails, pack your trainers: there aren’t very many places you can’t run or take a walk to get the blood pumping – even if bad weather means doing laps around the hotel or running up and down stairs.
The Real Meaning Of The Holidays
Candied sweet potatoes and stuffing are essential ingredients in most people’s festive menu, but at the end of the day they are not what the holidays are truly about. Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for all the blessings in your life, and while there are many different traditions that go along with Christmas, the true meaning was and always will be the celebration of the birth of Jesus. It can be easier not to go overboard on the indulgent food if you remember why you are celebrating, and choose to make that the focus of your holiday – instead of over-doing the pie and regretting it come January 1st.
Enjoy
Staying on track with your health and fitness doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the holidays – be conscious of your food choices and enjoy everything in moderation – that way you won’t feel deprived or gain weight. Get creative with your fitness, spend time with your family, and ensure you remember the true meaning of the holidays.
Jane Sandwood is a professional freelance writer and editor with over 10 years’ experience. Jane has a particular interest in issues relating to health, fitness and nutrition.
Photo by Jennifer Pallian on Unsplash