Presented as a service to our local communities by Bristol Total Fitness personal trainer Julie Fostin

I LOVE this time of year. The people, the food, the energy, being with family, the sweets – did I mention the sweets? The holidays really are a wonderful time of year but for someone who’s trying to improve their health and wellness during this season, it can bring on feelings of frustration and dread.

Be Mindful AND Patient With Yourself

Instead of going through the holidays with an all-or-nothing mentality, allow yourself some wiggle room. And don't beat yourself up when it doesn't go as planned. Results come from consistency not perfection. How you bounce back from a slip up is much more important than the slip up itself. So remember to shake it off and get back on track.

One day of holiday eating is not going to set you back on your health and wellness goals. What is more important is that you get back on track the next day and stay focused! It is important to eat the foods you love on this most yummy time of the year.

Tips To Stay On Track During the Holidays:

The Holidays are just around the corner and that means holiday concerts, company parties, family parties and more. Know that you can absolutely enjoy yourself and still stay on track with your goals.

1. Keep moving.

Staying active or even increasing your physical activity this time of year is one way to counteract the extra calories you might be consuming. This doesn’t me every time you have a cheat meal you have to jump on the treadmill for an hour. As I always tell my clients this time of the year “Maintain Don’t Gain”. Don’t deprive yourself of the foods you love, remember everything in moderation.

2. Enlist Support.

Use the buddy system by enlisting support from friends, family or co-workers. Whether they are following the same health and diet plan as you or just an advocate for your success, having someone on your side might be just what you need. And research implies having a support system can help you be more successful when trying to lose weight.

You can also hold yourself accountable and gather support by posting about your health journey on social media.

3. Plan Ahead.

Going to a friends or family house for holiday dinner? Bring a healthy dessert or appetizer like a fruit salad, tossed salad or veggies with a healthy dip. That way if you get the munchies you have something healthy at the table as you're go to.

I also always try to have a small meal before I go so that I am not as hungry. It is never a good idea to skip meals throughout the day. You may overindulge on high calorie foods that you normally wouldn’t eat.

4. Sleep.

Sleep deprivation is a major course for concern during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Most adults require an average of 7 to 9 hours of sleep for their brains to function normally. Of course, the amount of sleep required varies from person to person. Getting a good night’s sleep is key to staying healthy over Christmas and it ensures that you have enough energy for all of the social events and activities that are filling up your calendar during this time of the year. Otherwise, that holiday burnout just might hit you like a ton of bricks—and fast.

5. Practice Mindfulness.

Self-care is so important this time of the year. The holidays bring on stressful times along with many emotions. As busy as things get try to take some time for a leisurely walk, relaxing yoga or meditation class to reduce holiday stress. So that you’re prepared with tools – really figure out what your top self-care go-to’s are – for e.g. if it’s writing – make sure you always have a pen and paper nearby (especially during the holidays).

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy (and healthy) New Year!

They say health is wealth and at Bristol Total Fitness we agree. With our strong values about healthy living, we want everyone to have an opportunity to be part of our community and live their best life at any age.

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