Why It’s So Hard To Stay In Shape From Thanksgiving To New Years & What To Do About It

Happy Holidays  from your St. Pete Weight Loss Personal Trainer & Transformation Specialist !

It’s here! We’re officially heading into one of the most festive yet busiest times of the year! Today I want to talk to you about how to over come two of the biggest obstacles people face trying to stay on track with their fitness goals during the Thanksgiving to New Years Holiday Season. This time of year is one of the most fun and festive times of year but, at the same time, many people feel so stressed, tired and overwhelmed they tend to say “Why bother? I’ll start in January.” Instead of being able to enjoy this time of year, many people trudge through it feeling tired, stressed and bloated instead of rested, energized, and be able to enjoy friends, family and festivities to their fullest! But it doesn’t have to be that way, because the biggest problems people face all have solutions. See, knowing in advance that these are the trouble areas is half the battle won. Once you’re on guard for these problems, you can develop solutions and build defenses in advance. As a weight loss personal trainer  in St. Petersburg  for over 20 years, I’ve heard the same frustrations over and over again! After working with over 3000 people, I’ve noticed that all of the various challenges fit into one of 6 categories: 1. Social pressure 2. Environment (food temptation everywhere) 3. Busier schedules and travel 4. Cold, dark and gloomy weather 5. Meal planning and food tracking difficulty 6. Mental challenges (stress, depression, lack of motivation)

Today I want to cover Social pressure and Environment.

So, let’s take them one by one with specific challenges our clients have come to us with and the solutions that have helped them avoid Holiday weight gain for 23 years. I mean, there is food temptation everywhere – You can’t escape it – You can’t escape temptation completely at any time in the modern world, unless you move to the country and and avoid leaving your house.

“There’s food EVERYWHERE at work”

1. Take control of your own work space and keep food out of sight –  Food in reach in plain sight gets eaten. Food in sight but out of reach will also get eaten, but not as often. Food out of sight and out of reach will rarely get eaten because it’s out of mind – it’s not a trigger. 2. Do not go to work hungry – eat a protein rich, filling breakfast. 3. Bring a healthy lunch and healthy snacks so if you’re offered food, you can say you already have some. 4. Bring your favorite healthier Holiday recipe – notice I didn’t say “healthy” but healthier …. Like one of the 15 dessert recipes included in my Ultimate Holiday Survival Guide – You’ve got cookies, pies and candies that people won’t even realize aren’t full of processed sugar, hydrogenated fats or other garbage that will set you up for blood sugar swings, bloat and moodiness.

“There are so many Holiday parties” 

1. Go to them and enjoy them – Just plan ahead and plan the the rest of your food for the week to accommodate a few extra calories at those events 2. Eat a high protein snack before hand so you aren’t hungry and go in with a PLAN . Most people who try to “save up calories” find that plan backfires and they eat all those calories and even more. 3. If you drink, drink in moderation and avoid mixed drinks with sugar or fat. I’ve got our 8 member favorite drink recipes for you in my Ultimate Holiday Survival Kit 4. Be mindful that alcoholic beverages not only pack a lot of calories, they also lower inhibitions and increase appetite – 

“If someone special meal or cookie recipe and you don’t eat their food, they feel like you’re snubbing them or even get offended“

1. If you really don’t want the food, say no thank you – Every time you let other people dictate your health decisions because you’re afraid of hurting their feelings, your will gets weaker and you put OTHERS in charge of your health and body. 2. If you really want the cookie or meal, have it –  As long as you don’t eat surplus calories for the WEEK , you won’t gain fat. MORE FROM FAT LOSS U:  5 Easy Ways To Avoid Holiday Food Pressure “People bring me food and I get gift baskets. When a gift is food and you refuse it, you look ungrateful”  1. If you don’t want food gifts, then create expectations in others in advance –  Let it become known that you’re the type of person who won’t eat holiday food gifts. 2. It’s rare that people will give me junk food for gifts because they know better (see what I just did there?) 3. Donate them –  You can always drop them off to a homeless shelter or a place like CASA where people can always use a dose of Holiday spirit or some goodies

“My challenge is the holiday food I see only once a year and I love it”

I’m the same way and you know what? I eat it! But I don’t eat ALL of it and I don’t eat it every day. 1) We coach our clients to eat Golf Ball size portions of their favorite foods, planning ahead and putting them on a plate so they aren’t mindlessly taking in calories. You can even indulge a day or 2 here and there all that matters is that you PLAN AHEAD, adjust the rest of your week accordingly and don’t go over your caloric needs for the WEEK. 2)We coach our clients to plan in one whole “unstructured” day or 3 meals a week depending on their social schedule and events.

“I find myself saying, “To heck with it, I’m going to enjoy the holidays. I can get back on track with healthy eating and working out in January”

1. You can enjoy the holidays (including the food) and continue on towards your goals – it’s not one or the other. 2. Change your thinking from “all or nothing” to “creating a healthy lifestyle. Your lifestyle is not something you do part of the year, it’s how you live every day and part of your identity. MORE FROM FAT LOSS U: How To Stop Eating So Much Junk Food

“There’s more Alcohol during the holidays than any other time of the year and no accountability because everyone around me is drinking; I would literally be the only one not drinking.”

1. Here’s the thing. I don’t drink.. at all and am often the only one at any given event not drinking. No one really cares as long as we are all having a good time. 2. Volunteer as a designated driver and take the issue completely off the table. 3. On the other hand if you want a drink or two, plan it out in advance to have that event as an unstructured meal. MORE FROM FAT LOSS U: The Truth About Alcohol & Weight Loss Drop a comment below and let me know below which ones you’re committing to or share a tip of your own.

Want More Tips  Like These PLUS 30 Member Favorite Holiday Recipes That Won’t Keep You From Your Fitness Goals PLUS 14 Pages Packed With All Of The Secrets, Tips And Strategies That Have Helped Our Clients Enjoy The Holidays Without Weight Gain?

This Is Your Ultimate Holiday Survival Kit. Best Of All, It’s Completely FREE Just For Being Part Of The FSP I TVF Family !

Just CLICK HERE To Download Yours Now.

Committed To Your Success & Awesomeness, Dianne Villano, THE Fitness Expert For Your Over 50 Body P.S. Hearing from our readers is one of the best parts of my day. Drop a comment if you have any questions or just to let me know what you think about this or let me know a topic you want me to write about!