I think we can all agree that there should be a lot more 3-day work weeks, yes? :)
I'm especially excited because Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. When a holiday combines food and football, I'm guaranteed to be a happy cowgirl!
We have a tradition of hosting Thanksgiving dinner for all our friends in DC who can't go home to our families for Turkey Day, and we love it. If we can't be with our families, we can at least have an awesome time with our friends! Preparations for the big day are in full swing: I've pre-made the homemade cranberry sauce, Brandon is getting the turkey ready for its luxurious brine bath, and I'm ready to cook up a storm.
The only difficulty with Thanksgiving and the holidays is the same difficulty that most people face: staying on track with healthy eating and fitness.
This will be my first Thanksgiving and Christmas since I lost 20 pounds, and I want to be sure I don't gain any of it back. I didn't work hard to lose it just to have all my effort be blown over the course of 6 weeks, so this morning I decided to create a game plan for staying on track throughout the holidays.
My plan of attack hinges on paying close attention to what I eat and adhering to my workout schedule.
First and foremost, I need to be vigilant about tracking my daily points in my Weight Watchers app. Since I really hit my stride with WW, I was able to relax a bit on point tracking, since I knew the points value of almost all my food choices.
The holidays, however, are a whole different ballgame: I'm not normally presented with a glut of candy, pie, or desserts, and I don't know how to fit them into my points allocation. So, I'm going to be really careful.
By tracking all my points, I'll know how to make room for a slice of pie or a glass of eggnog. And if I don't have room for it, then I simply don't have room for it: while I'm all in favor of an indulgence now and then, I need to plan for it in advance (as opposed to just going for broke and trying to make up for it later).
| We can still hang out this year, gorgeous. I just have to plan ahead. |
Secondly, between holiday parties, Christmas prep, and general merriment, it can be easy to slack off on my morning dates with the gym. I normally do whatever workout I feel like going for in the morning: whether it's cardio, running, strength training, or some combination thereof, I usually just wing it.
For the next 6 weeks, though, I need to strategize my workouts in order to maximize the amount of time I have in the gym.
For this week, my workout schedule is as follows:
Monday: 45 minutes of cardio (elliptical + bike)
Tuesday: 30 minutes of cardio (elliptical) + 15 minutes running (9 min/mile pace)
Wednesday: 25 minutes of cardio (elliptical) + 20 minutes strength circuit training
Thursday: Outdoor run - 4 miles
Friday: 45 minutes of cardio (elliptical + bike)
Saturday: 25 minutes of cardio + 20 minutes of strength circuit training
If all goes according to plan, I'll avoid the dreaded holiday weight gain and be in just as good of shape on January 1 as I am now!
You can do it hun! Plans are always helpful :) Don't be afraid to cut yourself a little slack though, especially if your body needs a rest day!
ReplyDeleteAmen, sister soultrain! I'm a big fan of rest days - I usually reserve Sunday as a day of communing with the couch and the TV, but there are definitely times when I need to switch the schedule up and take my rest day earlier in the week. :) Like you said, it's important to give the ol' bod some rest when it needs it!
DeleteI'm not sure if my last comment went through or not, so if so I'm sorry but here is another :
ReplyDeleteYou will be just fine this holiday season girl. There isn't a doubt in my mind that you won't over indulge in holiday goodies. You are such a strong & determine person, so it just seems impossible. Please make sure to treat yourself from time to time though. :)
Aw, thanks, Jessie! I appreciate the encouragement! :)
DeleteI'm right there with you! And trying to LOSE the last bit of weight on my 30 pound goal during the holidays is particularly rough. ;) Thank god you're here to keep me inspired!!
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