Surviving the holidays… with your weight intact part 2: weight training and cardio
If you caught part one of this article you no realize that it does not have to be a given that we will get out of shape during the holidays, letting our fitness goals hopelessly fade away. In the previous section of this article we discussed how that you can have your cake and eat it too; indulging but in moderation and with control.
Now, for the second part of the equation, the workout; this is where the damage control really comes in. All too often we miss scheduled workouts in the gym because we have just come to accept that our fitness endeavors will be half-hearted at best. The excuse “I just don’t have the time” is really not a valid one in a world of 24 hour gyms and endless arrays of home fitness gear. This is not to say that you can’t modify your regular 60 min weight training session to 45min if really pressed for time. The point is that if your workout takes an hour and you only have half of that, then just do what you can. Don’t just skip it all together, keep the discipline! Worse-case scenario, go for a walk; just get moving somehow! Better yet, anticipate interferences with your fitness program and plan accordingly. If you know that you will have to modify Monday’s session, but Tues you will have more time, adjust to make up for the lost time on Tuesday. Hitting the weights may mean you have to get up an hour earlier, so do it. Just remind yourself it is only for a short time while things are hectic. If you are spending time with family, try to get them involved. Sometimes families simply can’t understand why your workouts are so important. If you can get them involved, they may stop questioning you and actually begin to encourage you. If all else fails, remember that you have worked hard to achieve all that you have with your fitness program with all the weight training, diet, and cardio work. Although you may have far to go to reach your goals, this is no time to give up! I have been in this business for a long time and I can attest to the fact that it is not where you are with your current fitness level, but the direction that you are headed. The common factor in those who achieve a high level of success in regards to their fitness goals are able to effectively deal with adversity. In fact, no matter what unfortunate road-blocks may appear in your path to your fitness goals, it is the ability to overcome them and not the nature of the roadblocks that will ensure your success. Murphy’s Law predicts that what can go wrong inevitably will go wrong; overcome adversity and don’t let the season ruin a great body or set the construction of one behind. The holidays should be fun, not a scary lesson in self torture and denial. Remember that there is a difference between sacrifice and discipline; sacrifice is needlessly withholding what you truly want and discipline is doing what is needed to get what you truly want....discipline is focus while sacrifice is pain. Have fun and stay on track; you can have your cake and eat it too!
Now, for the second part of the equation, the workout; this is where the damage control really comes in. All too often we miss scheduled workouts in the gym because we have just come to accept that our fitness endeavors will be half-hearted at best. The excuse “I just don’t have the time” is really not a valid one in a world of 24 hour gyms and endless arrays of home fitness gear. This is not to say that you can’t modify your regular 60 min weight training session to 45min if really pressed for time. The point is that if your workout takes an hour and you only have half of that, then just do what you can. Don’t just skip it all together, keep the discipline! Worse-case scenario, go for a walk; just get moving somehow! Better yet, anticipate interferences with your fitness program and plan accordingly. If you know that you will have to modify Monday’s session, but Tues you will have more time, adjust to make up for the lost time on Tuesday. Hitting the weights may mean you have to get up an hour earlier, so do it. Just remind yourself it is only for a short time while things are hectic. If you are spending time with family, try to get them involved. Sometimes families simply can’t understand why your workouts are so important. If you can get them involved, they may stop questioning you and actually begin to encourage you. If all else fails, remember that you have worked hard to achieve all that you have with your fitness program with all the weight training, diet, and cardio work. Although you may have far to go to reach your goals, this is no time to give up! I have been in this business for a long time and I can attest to the fact that it is not where you are with your current fitness level, but the direction that you are headed. The common factor in those who achieve a high level of success in regards to their fitness goals are able to effectively deal with adversity. In fact, no matter what unfortunate road-blocks may appear in your path to your fitness goals, it is the ability to overcome them and not the nature of the roadblocks that will ensure your success. Murphy’s Law predicts that what can go wrong inevitably will go wrong; overcome adversity and don’t let the season ruin a great body or set the construction of one behind. The holidays should be fun, not a scary lesson in self torture and denial. Remember that there is a difference between sacrifice and discipline; sacrifice is needlessly withholding what you truly want and discipline is doing what is needed to get what you truly want....discipline is focus while sacrifice is pain. Have fun and stay on track; you can have your cake and eat it too!
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