Posted on November 27, 2015 by Jenny Cromack
With December just around the corner the countdown to Christmas can begin, and that means one thing….party season!! Now don’t get me wrong we all love a good party at motive8 North but too much partying could also be detrimental for your fitness goals. So here is our guide on how to survive the Christmas party season.
Use your planner
Being planned with your work and social life can make your life so much easier and can be extremely useful. A great idea is to highlight key events were you know your diet will be out of your control or busy periods, this will allow you to be able to plan in advance and make changes to your training routine and prepare your food and be super healthy with your meals on the days leading up to the event
Be accountable for your food and drink intake
The bottom line is eating clean and not drinking will get you the results you want much faster but you can salvage eating the odd unhealthy option by making sure you are accountable for what you eat and drink. If you have big roast dinner then you have to put the work in before and after both in the gym and with your eating.
Is it worth it?
A lot of over indulging is done simply because it is Christmas, you have to have the will power and ask yourself is it worth it? An extra glass of wine or a handful of naughty nibble may be appealing at the time but you are likely to regret it when you look back so take time to always ask yourself is it worth it?
Surround yourself with support
A lot of people ask the motive8 gang how we can go to gatherings or out for meals and not drink or eat mince pies and Christmas cake. For one I don’t like mince pies… no on a serious note, a lot of my family and friends support me in my life choice and those who nag and try to be the devil on my shoulder soon get told to ‘get lost’!. It is important to be confident to say No. A top tip is to let them know why it is important for you to stick to your healthy regime without forcing it down their throats .. nagging friend can be as anooying as the ”feeder” friend. Remember, if they are your true friend they will support you whatever.
Avoiding the alcohol binge
As you are probably aware alcohol can be a real fitness goal killer and can be a big hurdle in peoples progress so we advise you cut this out completely for the best results. Some top ways to do this are:
– DES – Be the designated driver.. everyone will love you and you can keep to your no-alcohol regime.
– WATER = VODKA…If you’re surrounded by annoying people trying to make you drink disguise your water with a lime and pretend it is a Vodka and soda.
Just remember that hangovers lead to increased cravings the next day waking up fresh will leave you feeling motivated and on track ready to hit the gym, rather than stay in bed!
Look at the menu in advance
In most cases if you are going out for dinner you will know were you are eating so looking at the menu in advance will give the advantage of planning what you are going to eat and will prevent you making rushed choices that can be fatal to your fitness regime especially if you’re hungry.
Remember don’t be afraid to ask for a variation of the menu. If you order steak as the waiter to swap the chips for a nice salad or some seasonal veggies.
If you are going at a restaurant and unsure what to have ask one of the motive8 team to help you.
Eat before you go
A lot of the parties you will attend will have a brown buffet ….lots of beige, processed, high carb food. But when you are there you soon become peckish and begin nibbling and before you know it you have had 4 prawn toast, 6 spring rolls and a handful of sandwiches. Control this common mistake by having a healthy snack or meal before to curve the cravings and keep you in control.
Preparing for your own party
If you are having a christmas party supply the following healthy tasty nibbles, click here , we can guarantee many of your guests will be trying to stay healthy too so they will thank you for it.
A lot of you will probably read the above and think gosh what a scrooge however being in control, planning and eating rich foods and drinking alcohol in moderation will allow you to stay on track.
Before you just one more mince pie or have one more glass of wine think were do I want to be in January when Christmas is over? An overstuffed turkey, or still hitting my Christmas goals.
We hope you have a great party season!