Every fall in Anchorage, Alaska, folks know precisely when the long winter has begun. They wake up one morning to see the local mountaintops freshly capped in white. They call it termination dust, and they shift gears for the coming season.
Well, for the rest of us, our version of termination dust comes the first time we see holiday decorations in stores.
It seems to come earlier every year, and it’s so startling to see Santa’s elves and reindeers on display almost a whole month before Halloween.
But here we are, like it or not: The holiday season is upon us.
So, let’s talk about what it means for healthy habits around exercise, eating right, getting enough sleep, and managing stress.
And no, it’s not too early to think about New Year Resolutions, either.
Join me. For Holiday Healthy Habits, 2022.
- If you’re not already exercising regularly, this is a great time to start. The seasons are changing and, as the days get shorter and cooler, it can be easier to snap new routines into each day or week.
- Maintaining a commitment to work out will help you manage social demands of the coming months – and help you resist/manage those temptations to overindulge that you know are coming.
- Sit down with a calendar to plan the next three months. Include days and times you’ll exercise. Add travel, parties and other social commitments – will there be challenges or temptations? We have plenty of strategies – from eating a light dinner before you go to a party with heavy appetizers, to being the designated driver on nights when you might otherwise drink too much. Simple planning can help you manage the whole season.
- When receiving invitations and planning commitments, remember that “No, thank you” is a complete sentence. It’s entirely OK to decline an invitation, and you don’t owe anyone an explanation. It’s so easy during this time of year to get overwhelmed with obligations, to fall out of good habits, and to create resentments. Remember to just say no sometimes.
- Start your 2023 resolution now. You probably know what it will be, so why not spend the next few months prepping for it. Imagine how ahead-of-the-game you’ll feel on January 1 when you wake up having already gone to the gym for a few weeks. When you wake up without a hangover or feeling stuffed and lethargic. When you wake up ready to tackle the day and the year!
Look, you need to think of this time the way our friends in Alaska do. Like it or not, seasons change, and we must anticipate them to make them work for us.
No. 1 on your list: Move that body every day. I am here to help show you how.
Remember, it could be the key to your whole holiday season – and beyond.
Your Friend and Coach,
Train Smart. Train Hard. Train Safe. Train to Sweatt
P.S. – Whenever you’re ready, here are 3 ways I can help you get started with a fresh start to your health and fitness routine:
1. Set yourself up for success
If you’re currently trying to lose weight, alleviate back pain and/or improve your health & fitness, you should schedule your success session. We’ll go over ways that you can start seeing results starting right after your session. Reply with ‘success’ to schedule yours today.
2. Join the Train to Sweatt Community
Join a group of likeminded busy people who want to get healthy and fit from the comfort of their own home just like you. Get helpful health and fitness tips and tricks every day from myself and other members.
Click here to join now and get one step closer to that healthy and fit body of your dreams.
3. Fit for Fall
Join my 28-Day Fresh Start program and get everything you need to get you back on track this fall with your fitness goals. the workouts, the guidance, the motivation, the accountability… and individually-customized Registered Dietitian-designed and approved meal plans. Reply “Fresh” to get started today.