The Only Tip You Need For Weight Loss During the Holidays

The holidays are here, which means a season of family, joyous festivities - and overindulgence. We are here to remind you that health goals don’t need to be tossed out the window to enjoy the holidays! Whether you're still working to hit your goals or just want to maintain all the progress you made this year, our number one key to success is planning ahead!

For busy parents and professionals alike, carving out some time to establish plans before the rush of holiday shopping, festive baking, and attending parties is a must if you don’t want to forfeit all the work you put into your health this year! By planning ahead, you'll be equipped with all you need to create a healthier holiday season, without sacrificing time with your friends and family.

Plan your meals

Health and weight loss goals can quickly be overwhelmed by all the exciting festivities. The last thing you want to do during a busy holiday season is scramble for meals, allowing yourself to be tempted by unhealthy snacks or takeout! Take the time to pre-prepare some meals at home or take advantage of a meal prep service that can help alleviate stress around deciding what to eat and keep you on track health-wise. You'll also save time by having your meals readily available and won't feel guilty about skipping cooking at the end of a long day. Having protein-packed meals and snacks can even help minimize the temptation of overindulging at holiday parties. Don't let the hustle and bustle of the holidays prevent you from staying on health track—plan your next few weeks (or even just one week) ahead to ensure success!

Plan your workout schedule

Quality training requires quality planning - that's especially true when the festive season rolls around. We don’t just mean planning around all the holiday parties- look ahead at any big end-of-year work projects or kid's Christmas performances, and get a head start on how you can fit in some training. This could involve moving training sessions to a more convenient time of the day, making use of lunch break workouts, or increasing your frequency during the slower weeks so you have one less thing on your plate during the busy ones! Some weeks squeezing in training may be a challenge, so planning a few weeks ahead can make the difference between meeting training goals or missing out entirely.

Plan to enjoy the season

Remember that weight loss is a journey, not a destination - focus on making progress, not perfection. Don’t forget the why behind all your hard work throughout the year: for moments like these. Most of us prioritize our health not just for ourselves, but for our spouses, children, and grandchildren as well. Spend some time with your loved ones this holiday — a walk in the park, playing board games, or simply sitting by a crackling fire — whatever it is that brings you joy, and don't let guilt take away from these moments. "The perfect health plan" isn’t realistic if it doesn’t account for our human nature and imperfect adherence. Do your best to plan ahead and make choices that support your health goals, but when you do choose to eat the cookies your kids decorated or have a drink at your friend’s holiday celebration, don’t beat yourself up or dwell on it while you could be enjoying the moment with your loved ones.The holidays are a time for family, friends, and festive fun. While we don’t want to deprive ourselves of all the good things during this season, we also don’t want to undo all our hard work with weight loss. That’s why planning is key. Plan your meals ahead so you know what you’re eating and when. Plan your workouts ahead so you aren’t surprised or stressed unnecessarily. And plan to indulge a little bit, too! With a little bit of pre-planning, you can enjoy the holiday season without sacrificing your weight loss goals or time with those closest to you!