I’ll be honest, even though it’s my job to stay fit all year around, I’m not a fan of depriving yourself during the holidays…at least not completely. And if you’re meeting up with family and friends, you really don’t want to be that one person who turns down your mom’s (or worse yet, your mom-in-law’s) pecan pie she slaved over the hot oven…just for you.
That being said, you don’t want to over do it either. One slice of pecan pie will suffice. A little discipline goes a long way. Just keep in mind that the more you let yourself go during the holidays, the more difficult it’ll be to get back in shape. You really don’t want to set yourself up for failure during the holidays.
So today I have 4 easy and effective tips you can implement during this holiday season, so you can still have fun and indulge (in moderation) without feeling guilty. And more importantly, by applying these simple tips, it’ll set you up to be in good position to easily get back in shape come this new year.
Here are the 4 tips:
Tip #1: This may sound a little off-the-wall, but doing a short 5 minute workout right before you sit down to eat actually helps prevent fat gain. Even though the workout is super short, it helps deplete some of the glycogen storage in your muscles. This way when you eat, it actually helps restore glycogen in your muscles first, which helps alleviate some calories from being stored as fat.
If and when you do this, you want to choose an exercise that works as many muscles at once, like Burpees. But if that’s too strenuous, you can do a combination of Push Ups and Squats.
Here’s a sample 5 minute workout:
Burpees - As many Burpees as possible in 5 minutes.
Push Up and Squat combo - Just modify this workout so you can do as much as possible in 5 minutes.
Keep in mind that the idea of the workout is to do as many reps as possible in 5 minutes, so speed counts and no resting!
Tip 2: Drink a glass of water before you eat. This is one of the most simple yet effective tip you can implement, that helps prevent you from overeating. The key here is to drink water, and not some flavored drink…even if it has zero calories. Drink 8 - 12 oz of cold water 10 - 15 minutes before you eat and you’ll be amazed at how it curbs your hunger.
Tips 3: If it’s green…eat it. Unless it’s green frosting. Most vegetables are high in nutrients and fiber but low in calories, so it’ll fill you up without having to worry about going over your daily calories. Try and stick to fresh or steamed vegetables and stay clear of vegetables doused in sauce. If you’re really hungry, fill up on salad first, so you won’t be tempted to eat the bad stuff later on.
Tip 4: This one can be a little tricky, especially during winter, but it’s also one of the most helpful. Try and go for a walk after a big meal…especially after dinner. Walking after a meal helps with digestion and it also helps lower your blood sugar level to prevent calories from being stored as fat. If it’s too cold to go outside or it’s not safe, you can get the same benefits by keeping yourself busy after dinner, like doing the dishes or cleaning up. The longer you can stay moving the better.
So there you have it. Some of these tips may seem a little unconventional, but if you’ve had a difficult time keeping your weight off during the holidays, it’s definitely worth a try.
Stay Lean,
-Shin
Information provided by Shin Ohtake of MAX Workouts - maxworkouts.com
No comments:
Post a Comment