How To Make The Holidays Fuel Your Workouts

The holiday season can be a source of anxiety for keeping your health in balance. However, it doesn’t have to be. The good news is that there are plenty of mouthwatering foods that you can enjoy without feeling guilty. Choosing the right traditional Christmas food leftovers can actually fuel your workouts and help you get the most out of this treasured and infamous food-binging season.

Choose Holiday Foods That Boost Your Workouts And Recovery

There are so many great parts to a Christmas meal that can fuel your workouts. Plus, the right foods can help you recover quickly so that you can continue to push yourself to new limits. Luckily, many of the traditional dishes for Christmas are whole foods. In general, some form of a whole foods diet is considered ideal for optimal body health and function (2). This means choosing foods that are less processed and not loaded with additives or other hidden ingredients.

Think About The Ratio Of What’s On Your Plate

A large percentage of a person’s diet should have fruits and vegetables being the primary source of nutrition (3). Ultimately, what ratio you need between proteins, fats, and carbs when refueling will be different depending on your body type, as well as your preferred type of exercise and fitness goals (4).

Thus, try to load your plate first with all those leftover baked veggies, such as brussels sprouts, green beans, and salads first before reaching for the rest of the available options. From there, with any of the traditional more processed dishes, such as stuffing and dessert, the key is to enjoy them while still being mindful and supporting a healthier eating behavior (5).

Stay Active This Holiday Season

This year, keep your fitness routine a priority as you make your holiday plans. For most people, this means scheduling a workout first thing in the morning before you are tempted to skip it altogether. Then you will be ready for anything the day brings on as you visit friends and load up on your favorite foods. Luckily, morning exercise before your planned festivities is gaining popularity with traditions like Santa Claus Half Marathon and New Years Race, and the convenience of iFIT makes a quick workout closer within your reach than ever before.

A great go-to workout to escape the colder months is Tommy Rivers Puzey 10k Training Series in the Balkans. Workout as you admire the vineyards of Istria, the waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes, and the medieval town of Dubrovnik.

Go For High-Intensity Workouts To Maximize Your Calorie Burn

Don’t want to do a traditional Santa Claus Half Marathon and New Years Race in the cold? No problem! Even if you are short on time, a quick killer high-intensity workout (HIIT) can get your day started with a bang (7). If you’re not sure where to start, try this quick calorie-blasting workout that can be performed on your treadmill. This type of workout is easy to knock out before the festivities begin.

Looking for something a little less intense? Try these Treadmill Walking Workouts For Beginners.

Be Mindful And Enjoy The Holiday

Don’t spend your time feeling guilty this holiday season! Start your day strong with a workout and then get on with your day with spending quality time with loved ones. To maximize your enjoyment and avoid the feeling of regret, take the time to be mindful of what you’re putting on your plate. By paying attention and choosing the right foods to fuel your workouts, you will keep from feeling tempted to binge eat and ruin all your health goals for the day, month, and year.

With a good workout routine in place and a little awareness of your food choices, there’s no reason to hide from all those holiday parties, family get-togethers, and other social gatherings. iFIT workouts and hearty Christmas food leftovers may be just what you need to enjoy yourself and embrace the holiday season!