Staying Pumped Through The Holidays!

Hello there! HAPPY ThursYAY!!
​How are you? Are you making this a productive week?! The holiday season is in the air​ and that can mean exercising less and eating loads of mash potatoes between Thanksgiving and Christmas...lol! Stay pumped and don't give up on your goal(s)!! Crush them and strive to be your personal best!!! I'm definitely feeling the spirit of the season! My calendar is filled with watching holiday movies, baking, time with family, decorating, a shopping trip in San Francisco, caroling, parties, and lets not forget...working out!! :D Whatever your upcoming family holidays look like, gatherings big or small, never forget to find ways to take care of yourself physically. Be disciplined when you need to be, keep a sense of humor, have much fun, and...yes...enjoy some of those mash potatoes :D 

​People start exercise programs all the time but staying motivated this time of year can be challenging for some of us! Today's post are a few tips that may keep you on track through the holiday season!! Bring the challenge on!!!

​- Add exercising to your to-do list. Make an appointment with fitness (lol) and give it the same prominence as your work deadlines, meetings, doctor appointments, and other must-do priorities. Making it part of your everyday schedule will help you see that you do have time and it can be done. After each workout, put a check (or star :D) next to it on your calendar. Review those marks often and continue to make those appointments a priority during the busy season.

​- Track your success. This is a good thing to do and it's never too late to start. Tracking your progress can help you excel. The holidays may not be your ideal time to track progress but it can help you stay focused.
​If you don't have a Personal Trainer then write down some basic measurements, how you look, and how you feel. For example: 
Date
Neck measurement
Chest measurement
Waist measurement
Hips measurement
Thigh measurement
​Calves measurement
Biceps measurement
Clothing size
Mood
Stress
Energy
​Did you notice that I didn't add "Weight" to the list? I personally don't use a scale during the holiday season. A scale will go up and down depending on the day, but measurements (using a tape measure) are far more accurate! If you have ANY questions about measurements, let me know and I'll get back to you!!
​After 3 to 4 weeks, take all the measurements again. Record all the numbers under the date in a column next to the initial entries. Make sure to include your mood, stress, and energy. You may be surprised at your progress...even this time of year ;) Continue to do a progress check into 2018. You'll find that this record of success will be a powerful source of motivation. It'll also be useful when you're feeling down because you'll know that you can keep pumping on.

​- Recruit a friend. Almost anything is doable or more fun when you have company. The wet or cold weather can't keep you on the couch if you have someone counting on you to work out with, right? :D Increase your exercise progress by hooking up with a friend. Weight training or cardio is a good way to release holiday stress. You can also recruit and challenge your social network buddies on Facebook or Snapchat and post photos of your exercise achievements. 

​- Buy some new gear. Whether it's a new pair of athletic shoes, headphones, or even new music to listen to, adding something new can make your workouts more exciting. New fitness clothing and exercise equipment can help too. Many stores have great sales this time of year, so take advantage of it and buy yourself something new! You deserve it, right?! Black Friday is next week :D 

​- Mix it up. Learn a new sport. If sweating and achy muscles aren't for you then look for ways to be physical that don't seem off-putting. No need to join a gym or purchase expensive equipment. There are ways to stay active that won't feel like a chore. Try a different type of workout or learn a new sport. Hiking is beautiful this time of year. Ice skating is a good workout too. If you're lucky to live in snow, there's skiing, sledding, snowboarding, and snowmobiling. Oh...and don't forget snowball fights...lol!

​- Be healthy for YOU. If you're exercising for yourself, that'll make all the difference in whether or not you achieve your goals. If you're relying on feelings of shame because you're overweight and you don't look like someone on social media then you probably won't get very far. If you've lost sight of why you started in the first place, write down all the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle. You need to be convinced that your hard work is worth it. The reasons need to be important to YOU, not just those around you ;)

​I'll be out of town on Monday and Thanksgiving, so I won't be posting next week! I'll be back here on Monday, November 27th!!
​I have FITastic posts in the making for December! WOOO WHOOO!! :D If you haven't subscribed here yet, now is a great time to do it! Don't miss out on MERRY Fitness!!
​Have an AWESOME Thanksgiving! I'm filled with gratitude for all of you that follow this blog!! It's been a rewarding journey and it continues to get better!!!
Stay healthy! Be productive! See you soon :D 
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