Festive slim down - Week 2
And so here it is, week two of our Christmas Little Red Dress plan.
This week we’ve asked Ayrshire personal trainer Jonathan Lucas to help offer advice on how to stay on track.
Jonathan specialises in one-to-one training and small group workout sessions.
His philosophy is that everyone can reach their fitness goals with help and a little dedication. He writes... When you want to look your best and still enjoy those tasty calorific treats it is important to build a good foundation of exercise and healthy eating in the weeks leading up to Christmas that will not only help you look your best but also feeling your best.
With the clocks going back leading to darker, colder nights, it can be difficult to find the motivation for exercise.
Many find themselves drawn to cosy nights on the sofa, high calorie comfort foods and those ever tempting seasonal treats left over from Hallowe’en.
It’s really no wonder most of us will gain on average a whopping 7- 12lbs over the winter months.
Other reasons for winter weight gain include less activity; poor weather makes it more appealing to remain indoors making it harder to burn off extra calories.
Comfortable, baggy clothes; out of sight really is out of mind.
Food and alcohol are a focal point of many social gatherings at this time of year too. Christmas and new year can be a busy time and it can be difficult to eat properly and quick, fast food options can be tempting when out and about. So what can we do about this? Make exercise a priority in winter to remain fit and healthy as the weather gets colder. Colder winter months can affect your blood vessels, increase chances of chest infection and flu and can lower your mood. All of which exercise can remedy. Set yourself a goal to work towards and write it down somewhere you can see it regularly. That Christmas party dress, a new years eve party or even a skiing holiday. This will help to keep you focused. Consider personal training to keep you motivated and to educate yourself on the best methods of eating and training in winter. Booking an appointment with a trainer and paying in advance means you are more likely to stick to your goal. Training with others can be beneficial too. Classes offer the opportunity to train at different levels with the support from others with similar goals and can burn off those extra calories instead of storing them around the body as fat. With regards to diet, what would the season be without mulled wine, a chocolate orange and a mince pie or two? These treats are there to be enjoyed but should be just that, a treat. As we have previously spoken about, keeping a food diary will help you to keep track of those little treats and stop you overindulging. Keep you protein intake high to keep you feeling satisfied for longer and less likely to snack. If you are off to a party, why not eat before you go making the buffet less tempting.
Consider drinks with low calorie mixers and don’t forget to drink water to keep you hydrated and keep that hangover at bay!
Christmas may seem like a long way away but weight loss and fitness is not an overnight activity.
Start now with clear goals and a plan and you can achieve your goals in time for the man in red arriving with your gifts.
One of Jonathan’s group training session clients is his wife Barbara and when Life popped in to see how the small sessions worked, he was busy putting her through her paces.
And he is offering Life readers 50 per cent off of his usual £ 10 group session fee for the month of November.
just contact Jonathan Lucas on 07584 160221 to book your place.
Make exercise a priority in winter to remain fit and healthy