Surviving the Gluttonous Holidays

Yeah I know. Christmas is about three weeks away so why am I already posting about eating over the holidays? Well, my holidays started today so I'm going to need my own advice sooner rather than later. Today I'm going to tell you how to avoid gaining a million pounds while stuffing your face with holiday goodies. 

Increase Your Cardio

Let's face it, we all know doing cardio is no fun. But if you want to get away with the serious binge eating and drinking (ahem, bailey's anyone?) that your about to do over the holidays you need to increase and intensify your cardio regiment. My recommendation? 30 minutes of cardio five times a week or more, especially if you start to feel real guilty about all that chocolate you ate.  You should also diversify your cardio regiment. Incorporate running, skipping and even some burpees into your routine. Burpees are really tough but they can do wonders for your cardio and fat burning regiment. Check out this great variation of the burpee that NFL quarterbacks Drew Brees and Aaron Rogers do from Men's Health.

Skip that Plate of Seconds AKA Portion Control

According to Ace Fitness, on Thanksgiving (Christmas eating habits are essentially the same) the average person consumes around 4,500 calories in the day. Wow. To put things in perspective, that is the calorie equivalent  to nine big macs. Nine!!

Ready to eat nine big macs?

So when you have that gut feeling (pun intended) to stop eating, listen to your body and take a rest. Practice portion control.

Plan How You Eat Strategically

Believe it or not, there is a strategy behind eating that will help you keep the weight off over the holidays. If you know you are going to be having a feast in the near future, eat lighter than usual a few days prior to the big meal. On the day of, have a very light breakfast and a light lunch like a salad or healthy soup. Eating fibrous food like watermelon, cantaloupe or veggies before the big meal will also help you feel more full and less likely to move for that plate of seconds. 

Don't let this be you!

Mind Over Matter

The holidays are an awesome time to eat great food, drink and enjoy quality times with friends and family. Just remember, that little bit of willpower you exercise when it comes to eating will have a huge impact on fitness progress. You'll keep your metabolism going, feel less bloated and lethargic, and feel accomplished once it's all said and done. 

Exercise of the Week: Offset Dumbbell Squat 

 This week's exercise is the offset dumbbell squat. The squat is one of the most valuable exercises as it works out several major muscles of your body. This slight variation helps you add one more to the list: obliques!! Try it out and let me know what you think!