Fit Fare

For most people, the holidays are a time when the errand list gets longer, and the social calendar fills up.  If you are unlucky like I am right now, you can also be faced with a huge work deadline right before the holidays.  I’m not quite sure how I am going to get everything done before Christmas, but I have to get it done somehow.  I am working 60-plus hours a week, and it’s only going to get worse the week before Christmas. 

I know what you’re thinking – just bag working out and cooking each night, and you’ll be fine.   Yet those are the two things which have been giving me the energy and stamina to get through this rough patch.  Here are some tips that I can pass on to others who may be going through a similar situation, to help maintain your sanity and your waistline during this hectic holiday time. 

First and foremost:  Exercise.  The only time I have to exercise is first thing in the morning.  If I go to work and think about squeezing in a workout after work, inevitably it doesn’t happen.   Getting 45 minutes to 1 hour of exercise each morning helps me start each day off with an accomplishment which gives me sustained energy throughout the day.  I am not fond of getting up at the crack of dawn, especially during these cold dark nights, but I try to make it to the gym by 7 am, I can still make it to work by 9 am, full of energy. 

Second, I have been doing most of my cooking on the weekend.  Usually it is a big pot of soup, which becomes my lunch each day during the week, or chicken breasts which make quick meals each night in many incarnations – either in sandwiches, salads, or pasta dishes. 

Lastly, I have been trying to fill my day with fruit.  I bring along two to three pieces of fruit each day to help me avoid poor food choices due to stress.  So long as I have these nearby, it helps when I’m thinking about grabbing a Snickers bar or the holiday cookies someone brought in.  It’s not 100% fool-proof, but it certainly helps. 

While I would love to be spending more time enjoying the build up to the holidays, I am just not so lucky this year.  I am trying to just keep my head above water, and not arrive at the New Year with an extra 5 to 10 pounds.  Hopefully the things I have been doing will help me through this rough time, and come out the other side healthy and happy.

Happy Holidays to Everyone!