Christmas and New Year is a time of indulgence. Even if Christmas 2020 wasn’t quite the same as a normal Christmas for many people all over the world, the majority of us probably ate and drank a little more than we normally would at any other time of the year. Our usual exercise and workout routines went out of the window at around the same time. Don’t beat yourself up if you’re a little heavier and less fit than you were at the start of last December. 2020 was a tough year, and we did well to get through it at all!
As a fitness conscious person, though, we imagine that you’re keen to get back in your best shape as quickly as possible. That’s a commendable goal, but it’s going to require effort, planning, and dedication. You don’t want to hit things too hard after a few weeks off because you can do a lot of damage that way, but a structured approach will yield the best rewards.
We’ve put together a few pointers for shedding excess Christmas pounds and returning to peak physical condition if that’s one of your New Year ambitions for 2021, so without further ado, let’s move on to looking at those pointers and putting a plan of action into place!
Throw Out All Your Leftovers
Just because food can keep it doesn’t mean you have to eat it all. A lot of the food we eat at Christmas isn’t good for us and wouldn’t be ingested as part of your regular diet. All that cake, turkey, candy, and other meat and drink is probably beginning to lose its appeal by now, so getting rid of it is a good first step on the way to resuming better eating habits. Throwing it out would be a waste, though, so dispose of it ethically; there are several charities who would love your leftover food, so get in contact with one and arrange a delivery or collection. Not only are you getting unhealthy food out of your cupboard and refrigerator, but you’re also doing some good for people in need. That’s a great way to start the year!
Go Vegetarian For A Month
What your body probably needs more than anything else after all that excess food and drink is a proper cleanse, and what better way to cleanse it than to go vegetarian for a month? We’re not asking you to cut out meat forever (unless you really want to), but cutting out meat for a month can make a surprising difference to your body – especially when it comes to weight loss. Pile plenty of healthy green vegetables onto your plate and use them to alkalize your body and kickstart the detoxification process. Consider replacing pasta with rice for a month, and cut out bread wherever possible. This short, sharp shock will reduce bloating and body fat and make you feel stronger as you ease yourself back into your regular workout regimen.
Make Yourself Accountable
It’s easy to skip out on healthy eating or exercise if you know that nobody is going to hold you accountable for doing so. It’s much harder if someone else knows you should be working on your body and is keeping track of your progress! Having a personal fitness coach would be the easiest way to do that, but we know that isn’t possible for everybody. Consider using social media instead. Post a picture of you in your workout gear as you appear right now, put it on Facebook or Instagram, and label it ‘Day one.’ People will then be expecting you to look different on day thirty, and so you have expectations to live up to. This will give you a reason to get out of bed and work on yourself every day, and it will keep you honest. As an added positive, you’ll hopefully get plenty of supportive comments from friends and family!
Go Back To A Healthy Sleeping Pattern
Those days between Christmas and New Year are difficult. You probably aren’t at work, you’re not entirely sure what day of the week it is, and you don’t have to see anyone or be anywhere. Because of that, you’re more inclined to stay up late or sleep in than you would be under normal circumstances. This can be devastating for your body clock, and so it’s important to get back to normal as quickly as possible. Set your alarm, go to bed at a time that guarantees you eight hours sleep as a minimum, and consider having a bath or shower just before bed. Build yourself a routine, and you’ll soon start feeling more settled.
Try This Ab Workout
It’s our stomach and abs that show the worst effects of Christmas excess, and so they’re the parts of our bodies we want to work on most of all after things go back to normal. We have a perfect workout for focusing on that. Please bear in mind, though, that success in this field depends on repetition. Think of it like playing slots. Nobody in their right mind would expect to have instant success the moment they place their first wager on online slots. They know they have to stick around and carry on putting money in until something eventually pays off. That requires a positive mindset and continuing to pay for those online slots when nothing appears to be going your way. Then, all of a sudden, you’ll have a big win. Exercise works the same way. You’ll never know how close you are to success until it happens.
To tone up your abs, try doing fifteen sit-ups with your legs bent, fifteen sit-ups in the tabletop position with your legs raised, fifteen scissor kicks with your shoulders raised off the ground, and then fifteen knee tuck crunches with full leg extensions. Repeat each set of fifteen three times, and you’re done for the day. This is a high-intensity, focused workout that should start producing visible results within a week or two. Stick at it, and you’ll be back to your usual self by the start of February. It will be like all that Christmas gorging never happened at all!
As soon as you feel confident in yourself, go back to your normal fitness routine. This one month approach will ease you gently back into a healthy lifestyle without making you feel like you’ve hit a wall, so store it somewhere safe so you can refer back to it after next Christmas!
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