STAYING FIT OVER THE FESTIVE SEASON WILL BE A CHALLENGE, BUT IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A CHORE. BY GETTING OTHERS INVOLVED AND FOLLOWING THESE STEPS, YOU’LL HAVE A REAL SPRING IN YOUR STEP COME THE NEW YEAR

Christmas is only one week away. The last few days in the office are upon you and the holidays are about to begin. December has no doubt been spent wining and dining and it’s probably starting to take its toll.

The late nights are rolling into mornings and it’s all starting to become a blur. You are struggling with low energy and sleep is something you can only dream about. Anxiety levels continue to rise as the days for Christmas shopping are starting to run out and there’s a lonely space under the tree where presents should reside.

Your daily habits have been turned upside down, meals are skipped and exercise is a casualty of the season.  This year, it seems that it won’t just be the turkey that will be stuffed on Christmas day. The lack of exercise this past month is starting to show. The extra calories obtained from eating four-course dinners and all the alcohol are adding up.

The stressful month saw you sprawled on the couch watching festive movies. Everything in your life may be stressful but, in your hour of need, ice-cream and chocolate have been your knights in shining armour, always ready to answer your call. This conditioned response to stress is one of reasons why this year you are left dreaming of a slight Christmas.

Fortunately, the situation is not beyond help. You can retrieve your body shape, so that Santa’s belly is the only one that shakes like a bowl of jelly. Like anything worth achieving, it will take discipline, dedication and determination. Time is limited and over Christmas, you have to make the most of the opportunities that present themselves.

The break from work will give you back eight hours a day, and with so many charities organising fitness events over Christmas, it’s time to forget about the past month and to give yourself a gift.  This Christmas, kill two birds with one stone as you strive for your health and fitness while giving back to the community.

SO HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO HELP YOU GET LEAN THIS MONTH:

• Eat before you go to Christmas parties. Skipping leads to overeating on a sluggish metabolism.

• Stick to your training. Continue with the same training days and times so that you don’t break your habits.

• When entertaining, you choose the restaurant so that you can determine the foods you will eat. Opt for lean meats and vegetables and ask the waiter to place sauces on the side.

• If you decide to drink alcohol, make your tipple a red wine. Give yourself some anti-oxidant love.

• Save time by doing your shopping online. This will eliminate the time spent queuing at the tills.

• Set limits to your chocolate and ice-cream intake. Be aware of the triggers that make you react to your sweet cravings.

• When you train over Christmas, make sure that your sessions are short and intense. Reduce rest times between exercises or perform sprints instead of slow continued exercise.

• Get sleep: Repay your sleep debt and your body can repair itself and regain its youth.

• Run the Goal Mile in Belfield or swim in the 40ft. Many charities can benefit from your enthusiasm.

• Have a great fitness-filled Christmas with your family. Spend time together while you take a brisk walk each day.