How to stay lean during the holidays

Holiday weight gain is a major reason why everyone has New Years Resolution weight loss goals! Weekly holiday parties, egg nog and holiday treats can quickly add up to 10 pounds more than you started with! Rather than give up after Thanksgiving give yourself a pre Christmas fitness challenge to keep you in check so that you can enjoy your holiday festivities fat free!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. 
    

   A PLAN: Always start your fitness venture with a solid plan. You have 2-3 weeks. What are you going to do each day to reach your goals? Create a diet plan that consists of protein and unprocessed carbs and a fitness routine that is 5-6 days of challenging cardio and strength training routines. Weigh and measure yourself at the beginning and at the end of the two weeks to see how you did!

2. 
    

   DIET: You can accomplish anything in 2 weeks right? Stick to a strict diet of eggs, chicken, fish, read meat, veggies, fruit, oatmeal, brown rice and yams. Limit one 6 oz (palm of your hand-no fingers) serving of protein and one cup of carb at each meal. Eat every 3 hours 4 times per day. **if you have an unavoidable holiday party, eat before you go and limit your alcohol to one glass of wine during these 2 weeks.

3. 
    

   AEROBIC FITNESS: Challenge yourself. Try getting on the treadmill and time how long it takes you to do a mile. Start out with a walk and then increase your speed when you feel you can. Lower it back down when you get too tired. Can you do it in under 15 minutes? Do this every day at the beginning of your routine and try to shave off at least 15 seconds per day... also do a minimum of 30 minutes of cardio per day. If you already do that then increase your challenge! Add time or up your level!

4. 
    

   STRENGTH TRAINING: Kick up your weights. If you have been doing bicep curls with 10 lb weights then increase to 12 lbs. If you have been doing 3 sets of everything then do 4! If you haven't been doing anything at all, then pic 1-2 exercises per body part and get going!! You should do 3 sets per exercise 10-12 reps. Add 3 ab exercises at the end 20-30 reps each! Break it up into upper body day and lower body day.

Tips & Warnings

• Whatever your current routine is you need to kick it up a notch for two solid weeks!
• create a plan you know you will stick to!
• At the end of your 2-3 week plan enjoy your holiday eating and get back to more strict fitness goals after new years!
• avoid grazing! Grazing at holiday parties is a sure way to eat way too many calories!! eat before you go to a party and limit your alcohol to wine.

[Thims]

on 10/25/2008 For heaven sakes I gain 10 lbs just looking at holiday food much less eating it! If I do alot of gigs and walking usually I can keep it off. Nice slim article!