PLEASE EXCUSE ME
NO. YOU ARE NOT EXCUSED. DON'T USE THE ONSLAUGHT OF HOLIDAYS AND PARTIES AS A
REASON TO GIVE UP ON YOUR PERSONAL FITNESS GOALS. JUST FOLLOW FITNESS GURU LORI
SAWYER'S SIX TIPS FOR STAYING SEXY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
We tend to use the holidays as an excuse not to exercise and watch what we eat. As if we were give some free pass to
let ourselves go, we gorge on fattening, sugary foods and often entirely forgo working out. Somehow celebration has
become synonymous with selling ourselves short, a.k.a. cheating on our diets, drinking way too much and not exer-
cising. In fact, we just about expect to gain weight around the holidays—as if the events of the season were holding us
hostage over our own usually health-conscious volition. No wonder we're depressed in January and February. During
this life-affirming time of friends and family, why would you give up on your own personal goals?
There is absolutely no reason you can’t stay fit and eat healthfully over the holidays. Of course you can have splurge here and there, but the holidays is not an excuse to gain those ten pounds you do every year. Don't let lame excuses rob you of your personal best. Here's how to make looking good your reason to celebrate this season.
1. Stay on your workout schedule
Plan your shopping, lunches and parties around your workouts. You only need to dedicate a few hours a week to your body, so don't let yourself down. Schedule your workouts just as you would a doctor's appointments, haircut and the like. Take two minutes to write out your workouts out on a calendar or input them into your computer/BlackBerry/Treo. Be sure to schedule them at least six weeks in advance, so you ensure a fitness-only time slot. You wouldn't dare miss a root touch up or nail appointment in preparation for that big holiday party, right? So why would you skip the one hour a day that is really going to up your gorgeous?
2. Set a short-term goal to maintain a healthy weight over the holidays
If you are working out on a regular basis you should always have a short-term and long-term goals list. If you don’t, there's no time like the present to sort out what you are looking to achieve—mentally, physically and emotionally–from your fitness and health regime. Start by picking a tangible goal, such as fitting into that fabulous slinky dress you spent way too much money on pre-kiddies and haven't been able to fit into post-kiddies.
3. Cheat!
It's okay to have a cheat day once a week as long as you plan for it in advance. Use that holiday party as your cheat treat. Do your best to eat well during the rest of the week, so you can really enjoy the splurge minus the guilt. Here's one caveat: don't overdo it. There's a difference between a cheat and pig-out.
4. Go outside
Just because the weather may be getting cooler doesn't mean that you can't continue to exercise al fresco. Barring extreme cold, take advantage of the brisk fall and winter air. Go hiking, ice skating, skiing, snowshoeing or just walking around the block. There are tons of great outdoor winter workouts that get your heart rate up and continue to help you shed those pounds—just be sure to bundle up.
5. Use a friend to help you stay on track
This is the perfect time to reconnect with a friend or make a new one. Choose a workout partner and make yourself accountable to him/her. It's easy—too easy—to make excuses to yourself; but having to answer to a friend makes the excuse game much more difficult. Having an exercise buddy can also boost your motivation and enthusiasm. Even if you only workout with your friend once a week, the strengthened connection and commitment will pay off big time.
6. Keep on drinking
One of the most important things we forget to do in the fall and winter is drink water. Just because it's not 80 degrees out, doesn't mean you don’t need to hydrate. You should always be drinking at least 90 ounces of water a day. Your body will be refreshed, your system will be flushed (from the drinks you had the night before), your skin will glow, your energy will be up and your head will be clear. All that and a size six slinky dress—now that's a reason to celebrate.
The key to enjoying your holiday season is staying with your program. Here's your mantra: I am committed to staying on my program. I will follow Lori's sexy six.
GIFT CERTIFICATES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
