I have to say, how fast has 2004 gone by? It only seems like last month I was recovering from Christmas 03, and here we are, set to do it all again. Last year I had a big one, and I vowed I would not do it again. Eating 1/2 a roast turkey pretty much by yourself is enough to make anyone sick, but conquering the bird I did.
This year though, I am taking a different approach. I plan to enjoy the festive season, and keep my hard earned physique in tact! If you have a plan for the festive season, you can bounce through the happy season by having your cake and eating it too! The better prepared you are, the easier it will be on your waistline - trust me!
What I will do here is show you the list of ideas that you need to tackle and make plans for so you can get through the silly season un-changed. Who knows, you might even grow some new muscle in the process.
Weight Training
Training is always hard at this time of year. No matter if you are staying home, or traveling to the other side of the world to spend Christmas with family and friends, you can always squeeze some training in.
The thing you need to remember is to be flexible because without a doubt, your schedule will change to some degree. Before we know the extent of the changes, we need to know when and where you will be training.
If you are staying put make sure you find out the trading hours for your gym. If you are traveling, get on the phone to all the gyms in your destination and try and find a gym whose trading hours best suit you. Once you have the location, you can then plan your training.
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More likely then not you will be forced to take a few extra days odd, but as long as you focus on the big, compound exercises then you will be fine
Cardio Training
Christmas should have no effect on your cardio training what so ever. No matter where you are spending the festivities, you always have the fresh air outdoors to do your cardio. Running, swimming, power walking, beach sprints, push bike riding, roller blading etc - they are all great forms of cardio.
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The great thing about outdoor cardio is that you can literally do it anywhere. As long as you get the heart pumping, then the job has been done.
Nutrition
This is usually the biggest pit fall for people at Christmas - I know it is mine. I don't know what it is, but I just seem to go on 'auto pilot' from the time I wake up till the time I crash at night. With my wife being a chef and coming from a family who enjoys the 'traditional' Christmas, there is just so much food. This year though, I am making a stand and re-claiming control.
Click Image To Enlarge.When People Cheat,
The Guilt Normally Follows.
More often then not, our nutrition pitfall is that we believe that we are indestructible come Christmas time. We more often then not don't believe the notion that we will gain weight, or just turn a blind eye. I am telling you though; you need to make yourself accountable for your actions and results you get from ALL facets of your training lifestyle.
You can also foresee if you are going to slip up, and minimize the effect accordingly. If you perform a high intensity cardio session before you sit down to Christmas lunch, your elevated metabolism will have a much greater chance off the extra calories you are about to eat. Or better yet, just don't eat as much. Not as much fun I know, but how much do you really need to eat to satisfy your hunger. Plus, what do you desire more - the 6 pack abs or the extra pudding?
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Supplementation
My best advice here would be to remain consistent with your supplement usage. It is very easy to fall into the laid back, festive lifestyle - but it really only takes a few minutes a day to keep the supplements coming.
I honestly believe that the more consistent you are with your supplementation, irrespective if you are actually training or not, the better chance that you will stay relative lean and super strong!
Conclusion
Well that's it pretty much. It's easy to come out on top if you have a plan, especially one that fits in with your other commitments. If this is all a bit too much, I'm sure Santa can pop a few fat burners under the tree for you. Lastly, we only get Christmas once a year, so above all else - make sure you enjoy yourself.
Merry Christmas everyone.
About The Author
Josh Dickinson is a Co-Founder of Physique Essentials - A Health & Fitness consultancy company determined to assist people reach their physique goals Naturally. He is an accomplished bodybuilding competitor and a certified personal trainer. If you have any questions that you would like answered by one of Australia's quickest rising competitors, send them to: info@physique-essentials.com
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