Your Holiday Cheat Guide
Big question is…how do we do cheat days during the holidays? December is pretty much all you can eat festive buffet of treats and cocktails. Ok…maybe in our minds it feels like that. But seriously some people think integrating a “cheat day or a “cheat meal” will derail them into old habits. But sometimes including “cheat” days during this time of year…can actually help you get through the season while keeping you sane.
We sat down with our resident Fitness Insider, Rajan Uppal from Level Upp, to see how we can cheat right without the guilt over the holiday season.
Indulge…in moderation – The key to indulging during the holiday’s is to keep your fitness goals top of mind. There is never an issue with enjoying sugary foods that are always in front of you, but don’t keep eating until you feel obnoxiously full. You should understand your holiday schedule and prioritize the events you are willing to give up that extra cookie or piece of cake for!
Turn “Cheat” into Treat – Set a schedule for holiday eating and plan the days where you feel you are going to be deserving of a cheat meal. Make sure to space it out so it feels like a treat for staying on track. Remember, a cheat meal is something you deserve, not a time for indulgence. For those days, where you end up treating yourself one too many days, remember to take a step back and think about why you set out the plan in the first place - it's to maintain your goals.
HIIT over duration – When holiday season hits, it’s hard to dedicate time to a full-length workout you may be used to, but that is perfectly fine. HIIT (High intensity interval training), is a great alternative that will allow you to maintain your goals throughout these busy weeks. These types of workouts can be extremely effective within a 15-30-minute time frame and may even allow you burn just as much if not close to the number of calories and fat you would burn in a 45-50-minute workout. The key is to have a very small rest period and the use of some weights, because when you combine strength training with cardiovascular endurance training, the results are amazing!
Here are some great workouts we recommend!
We sat down with our resident Fitness Insider, Rajan Uppal from Level Upp, to see how we can cheat right without the guilt over the holiday season.
Indulge…in moderation – The key to indulging during the holiday’s is to keep your fitness goals top of mind. There is never an issue with enjoying sugary foods that are always in front of you, but don’t keep eating until you feel obnoxiously full. You should understand your holiday schedule and prioritize the events you are willing to give up that extra cookie or piece of cake for!
Turn “Cheat” into Treat – Set a schedule for holiday eating and plan the days where you feel you are going to be deserving of a cheat meal. Make sure to space it out so it feels like a treat for staying on track. Remember, a cheat meal is something you deserve, not a time for indulgence. For those days, where you end up treating yourself one too many days, remember to take a step back and think about why you set out the plan in the first place - it's to maintain your goals.
HIIT over duration – When holiday season hits, it’s hard to dedicate time to a full-length workout you may be used to, but that is perfectly fine. HIIT (High intensity interval training), is a great alternative that will allow you to maintain your goals throughout these busy weeks. These types of workouts can be extremely effective within a 15-30-minute time frame and may even allow you burn just as much if not close to the number of calories and fat you would burn in a 45-50-minute workout. The key is to have a very small rest period and the use of some weights, because when you combine strength training with cardiovascular endurance training, the results are amazing!
Here are some great workouts we recommend!