Fight Holiday Weight Gain

The Holiday Season is among us and with this time of year when the air turns cold and it’s dark outside before your work day is done it’s very easy to slip into hibernation mode. It’s all too easy to slack off in the gym and indulge in all the holiday treats that are thrust in front of us. Even though most of the Christmas books say otherwise, not all fat people are jolly. 😉 This year you can fight holiday weight gain with some of these tips and tricks. After all you worked hard for your gains. Don’t let those evil cookie demons ruin it all…

• Get Up and Go Early
  With all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays it’s easy to get caught up in both work and family commitments. Make it to the gym earlier to get your training done before anyone gets out of bed. Chances are you’ll be less distracted and have the place almost to yourself.
• Recruit a Training Partner
  There is nothing harder than rolling out of a cozy, warm bed in the early morning to brave the cold on the way to the gym. It’s a lot easier to go back to sleep when you’re training alone. Find a partner during the holiday season to fend of the  Holiday Weight Gain and hold each other accountable. You’ll be less likely to hit the snooze button with the guilt of leaving your partner hanging.
• Compound Exercises for Total Body
  Compound exercises utilize multiple joints simultaneously using free weights. This means maximal muscle recruitment, high nervous system activation, more of a stimulus for growth and the release of muscle building and fat burninghormones.
  When running short on time or the will to train like a beast try a few of these Compound Lifts:
  • Pullups
  • Dips
  • Seated Barbell Military Press
  • Reverse Grip Bent-Over Barbell Rows
  • Bench Press
  • Barbell Step Ups
  • Dumbbell Lunges Deadlift
• Use Your Body
  Some days we just can’t make it to the gym during the holiday season. That’s no excuse. You can use your bodyweight to get a great workout anywhere. Even a quick 20 minutes can keep those lbs. away.
  Make yourself a quick circuit using some basic exercises like these:
  • Burpees
  • Reverse lunges
  • Crunches
  • Mountain climbers
  • Jumping Jacks
  • Jump squats
  • Push-ups
• Hydrate, Hydrate, HYDRATE!!!
  Water naturally helps you not overeat as much, keeps you hydrated and help you burn fat more efficiently.  Drink a large 32oz glass 15-20 minutes prior to any large Holiday meal. Make sure you drink water throughout the day so that the 5 M&M’s you grab when walking by the candy dish doesn’t turn into 50.

Holiday Weight Gain happens to the best of us.  But with a little effort and these few tips January will be a month for good gains not tears over treadmills.