Blog Post

80% of what you look like is based on your diet, so we can safely assume that we will all look a lot fatter after Christmas!! Whilst no amount of exercise can erase a bad diet there are small things that we can all do to lessen the damage!

If you think of all the hard work that you have put into classes and general activities throughout the year as ‘toys in the pram’ then it would seem childish to throw them all out of the pram, wouldn’t it?

I can see the frown on your face as you start to sense a lecture on the horizon! Another word that can be made from the word ‘lecture’ is ‘cruel’ so I have decided to abandon that idea and just talk about common sense instead. Happier?!

First, let’s attack the exercise (or lack of) and understand that higher intensity = less time needed.  A fast walk can be completed in 20 minutes and be as beneficial as a slow walk that takes an hour.  The same goes for any activity that gets you moving.  So walk faster, jump higher, dance funkier (go on lose those inhibitions!), the different ways to use more energy are simple and many.

From January to November we know that the more we eat the more we have to move.

***News Flash ***Its the same in December!

Now for the food and drink-fest:

When we fall off the healthy eating wagon at Christmas we do it in style – from snacking on fruit and filling up on wholegrains we suddenly start grazing all day and have three course feasts, eating everything in sight – even the chocolates we don’t really like.

A little bit of self control will go a long way to preventing that awful post Christmas guilt.  Note I only said a ‘little’. Getting a balance is what we need.

Enjoy a small amount of the things you love the most, and leave the foods that you’re indifferent about, or those you would not normally enjoy.  I know, it’s weird and we all do it.  I usually find myself eating things like chocolate orange segments that for 11 months of the year I hate!

If you love all sweets then allow yourself a handful but imagine me shouting PUT THE PACK AWAY! – it’s usually the first few mouthfuls we enjoy the most.

I read recently that it is important to ‘stay conscious’ about your health over Christmas.  I initially thought the article would be about staying conscious rather than unconscious due to mulled wine or the like!

I don’t think many of us will actually end up in that state but our choices do become a lot less intelligent once we have enjoyed a few drinks.  The result, excess calories in food and drink, a lose lose situation.

The only motivation you need to accomplish all of the above is to imagine how wonderful it will feel to not have to add ‘lose my Christmas weight’ to your New Year’s resolution list.’

I will leave you with that thought and of course the very best of seasonal good wishes.

Have a very happy & healthy Christmas.  Tess