Keep your fitness a priority with these simple tips from Princeton Club’s Trainers!
FOCUS
1. PRE-PLAN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN
Just like a roadtrip, in order to reach your destination — your fitness goals — you need a roadmap with directions and alternate routes. So grab your calendar and start creating your fitness roadmap!
First, skip ahead two months from today and write down the health and fitness goals you want to achieve by then. Next, jump back to today’s date and write in all your personal, work and holiday events for the upcoming two months. Lastly, add when you are going to workout over the next two months, as well as time for meal planning and prepping if needed.
When it comes to accomplishing any goal, success comes from preparation and consistency. Winging it typically leads to it falling to the wayside. So prep as much as you can and be flexible to shift around your schedule when an unexpected meeting or event comes up!
2. KEEP YOUR BODY MOVING
Hit the gym, go for a walk, ice skate with your family… just keep moving! The holiday season usually entails more travel and events, so your daily routine may get flipped upside down. So when your schedule looks different than usual, your workouts may have to as well. Make giving your body movement every day a priority. Switch to working out first thing in the morning when your to-do list can wait, park in the back of parking lots for extra steps, or do squats with the Thanksgiving turkey! Princeton Club members also get LesMills+ workout videos right on their phone for free so you can join an online fitness class anytime, anywhere!
FOOD
3. ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY FAVORITES
We all have special holiday treats we look forward to every year. And there is no reason you can’t enjoy them if you account for them in advance!
Plan ahead for those holiday treats by ensuring your daily meals are healthy and nutrient-dense. You can then indulge in moderation guilt-free, while still staying on track for your health and fitness goals.
4. PROTEIN, PROTEIN, PROTEIN!
Load up on the protein! Thanksgiving turkey, Christmas ham and so many other great festive options are loaded with the muscle-maintaining and muscle-building macros. Make protein a staple of your holiday meals, leaving maybe just a little less space for the tempting dessert table.
You can also try eating the protein portion of your meal first. Researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College found that when protein and vegetables were eaten before carbohydrates, post-meal glucose and insulin levels were significantly lower compared to when carbohydrates were eaten first.*
5. FOCUS ON THE MAIN 90%
Place a little extra focus on eating well on the days you don’t have family gatherings or events. Those couple of holiday parties aren’t what hurt your progress — it’s allowing those indulgences to creep in on “normal” days that can derail your diet and routine in between.
*(Shukla A, Iliescu R, Thomas C, Aronne L. Food Order Has a Significant Impact on Postprandial Glucose and Insulin Levels. Diabetes Care. 2015;38(7):e98–e99.)
MOTIVATE
6. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS
Whether you have a smartwatch or the classic pen and paper, tracking your progress and reflecting on your journey can be a huge motivator! Small progress day by day creates huge, long-term change. Seeing how you can lift 15 pounds more, cut two minutes off your mile or have a lower resting heart rate is an extra encourager to keep pushing forward towards your goal. The best is yet to come!
7. SET SMALLER WEEKLY GOALS
A larger goal can sometimes feel out of reach. Breaking it down into smaller goals that will lead to achieving your main goal can help build your confidence and resilience. You can celebrate your success along the way, and have that extra encouragement that you CAN succeed and reach your larger goals.
Get started at Princeton Club today with a Free Membership Trial AND limited-time special joining offers this month!
PRINCETON CLUB | Eight locations throughout the Madison area | princetonclub.net
