Beat the slump, calm your Christmas
Bounce back after Christmas to feel your best again in time for New Year’s Eve
Whether it’s one too many slices of ham or a few too many champers, the five days before December 31 can often leave you sluggish. Luckily, personal trainer Sam Wood has some tips to keep you feeling great.
1 Get moving
Commit to a minimum of five workouts between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Put the excess energy (thank you, pudding) to good use and use it as fuel for some solid workouts. You’ll feel better, eat better and sleep better after some exercise.
2 Do a mini fast
Give yourself a little challenge of spending two out of these five days doing a very basic fast. Try not eating anything until lunch time. Let’s face it, the amount of food you ate on Christmas Day will ensure there’s plenty left in the tank.
3 Drink up
All that excess sugar and salt is likely to lead to plenty of fluid retention, which can have you feeling bloated. Drink lots of water, skip the salt and go alcohol free.
4 Fight your cravings
It’s an unfortunate fact of life that the more sugar you eat, the more you’ll find yourself craving. This can be a very hard circle to break, so try to steer clear of the leftover pavlova. Instead, stick to a high protein diet with lots of vegetables.
5 Don’t sweat the small stuff
The festive season only comes once a year, so make the most of it. Learn to find a balance, and to make healthy choices more often than not. You’ll be fine!
Sam’s soft-sand burners
If you’re down at the beach, take the opportunity to cram in some exercise! 1 Do a four-minute jog and a light stretch to warm up. 2 Sprint for 30 seconds. 3 Walk for 60 seconds. 4 Repeat 10 times. 5 Hold a two-minute plank. 6 Repeat one more time!