Christmas Survival - Volume 1

Over the next couple of weeks I will be giving you tips and advice on how to survive over the festive season and keep on top of your fitness and health. Today I'm sharing with you Volume 1 of my Christmas Survival Series and it's all about preparation!

Prepare

Do a little preparation and even the worst hangover won’t make you lose sight of your fitness goals!

Make sure your cupboards are properly stocked

Food such as eggs, fish and avocado are high in B vitamins which will provide energy that’s been depleted by alcohol and caffeine. Strengthen your immune system with zinc found in turkey, lamb and sesame seeds. Cruciferous vegetables such as sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower all contain nutrients which support your liver function – including processing alcohol.

Have a goal / Remember your goals

Be clear with yourself about what your goal is. It might be to lose 2kg of your bodyweight. The clearer you are, the better your chance of success. If you fall off the wagon, you’ll have a better idea of what you need to do to get back on track and a greater chance of succeeding.

Use ‘if-then’ plans

Plan your activities in advance and you’re far more likely to stick to them. Make a list of all the temptations you’re likely to encounter and think about how you’ll respond to that. For instance, if I’m offered mince pies, then I will only have one.

Create a visual aid!

Have your goals/actions on your fridge or somewhere prominent and use them as a reminder to help keep you focussed. Use rewards and keep a note of how you will reward yourself if you stick to your goals.

Allow for slip-ups

You’ve got to accept that you’ll eat and drink more than normal. If you understand that it’s going to happen then you’ve got a much greater chance of controlling elements such as when and how much. If you’re eating three healthy, balanced meals a day, seven days a week, you can afford for 10% to 20% to be less than perfect!

Sleep well

Download the White Noise Lite app and play it as you go to sleep. White noise helps keep you in the land of nod because it’s equal across all sound frequencies so it can act like a sound mask, blocking out sudden changes, which are typically what jolts you awake.