9 Easy Ways to Keep Moving and Stay Fit During the Holidays

We’re smack dab in the middle of the mistletoe season now. Social obligations, shopping trips, office parties, family gatherings, and other festive events abound during this holiday time. Which means we are spending more time driving, flying, standing in line, and partying. Inevitably, this leaves less time to devote to our fitness goals.

On top of all that festiveness, many of us feel stress from our extra-busy schedules. That can lead us to overindulgence.

Even though I just painted a rather un-merry picture, I want to assure you that is possible to stay mobile and active during the holidays and not lose focus on your fitness goals.

So with that in mind, let's look at some strategies that can keep you moving and energized, and perhaps even add some extra fun and entertainment to help keep you not only merry and bright but fit!

9 strategies for staying fit during the holidays

1. Pre-load your movement

I mentioned this before in an article called Supercompensation: Why a Break in Your Training Is Necessary, which I wrote when I returned from traveling to Bermuda to report on a World Triathlon Series race. I knew well in advance that I wouldn’t have the time, gear, or perhaps even the inclination to continue with my normal fitness routine while I was away. Instead, I loaded myself before the break.

In the days leading up to the busiest time during your holiday season, you simply do as much movement and exercise as you can muster.

You don't have to be heading for a sunny beach to use this strategy, though. It’s a simple concept, and it’s easy to do any time you’re going to be pulled away from your usual fitness routine.

In the days leading up to the busiest part of your holiday season, simply do as much movement and exercise as you can muster.

As you know, fitness is actually built while you rest after a hard period of training. So if you know a period of rest is coming in the form of a holiday break, load yourself up by skipping some rest days. Do some back-to-back workout sessions, lift slightly heavier objects than usual, and push yourself a little harder knowing that you will be giving your body some restful care very soon.

2. Plan ahead

In the Weighless Life Facebook group that the Nutrition Diva and I run to support people who want to stop dieting and start weighing less, I recently posted this:

A friend recently told me that he had ‘lost his motivation to exercise.’ When I delved...

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