Throughout the year, you are actively engaged in maintaining a balanced diet and training schedule. That's part of being an endurance athlete. But with the holidays just around the corner, that becomes just a little bit more difficult... How do you deal with that?
We're going to help you with that.
Because there are some ways you can enjoy yourself without gaining too much weight. Happy!
We list these ways for you here so you have a clear plan of... balance for the coming holidays!
PLAN FORWARD
When grandma gets back to her Heavenly Mud or other sweet specialties on the table, it's game over. We all know that and that's not a bad thing!
But if you have an inkling that this is going to happen, it is wise to take this into account in your training schedule and diet.
For example, go run some extra miles or train just a little bit more often a few days before the food fest. This way you have some calories in reserve that may be filled with Heavenly Mud for this time.
You can also choose to eat less or lighter the days before. In the end, it's all about balancing your calorie intake.
HEALTHY CHOICES
Not everything on the table is unhealthy! It's just a little more tempting to choose unhealthy options, like chocolates, chips or Christmas cookies.
But make the proactive decision to have something healthy a little more often. For example, you can choose meals with roasted vegetables, grilled chicken or turkey, or quinoa and rice.
This way, you can enjoy healthy meals and not get an abundance of unnecessary calories.
WATER VS. ALCOHOL
It is always important to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated, but especially during the holidays. And especially if you're going to drink alcohol.
Water helps to satisfy your hunger. So try drinking two or three glasses of water between meals. Then you will soon notice that you are actually not as hungry after all as you thought beforehand.
It is also wise to limit your alcohol consumption. Alcohol contains a lot of calories.
Instead, opt for green tea or sparkling water.
SMALL BITS
Again, it's all about balance!
If you want to sample some of all the appetizers, snacks and dishes, it's best not to serve up a full plate of everything.
Instead, take small portions so you can really enjoy everything without eating too much right away.
Golden rule: taste, don't stuff ;).
RELAX
During the holidays, it is tempting to drink and socialize late into the night. If you plan to do the same, make sure you rest well the days before.
Rest, of course, is important for endurance athletes anyway. Your body recovers from all workouts during the rest phase.
So always try to get enough sleep and also make sure the quality of your sleep is good.
That way you can go for it in the following days and 2023 with full energy!
CONTINUE TO ENJOY
Hopefully these tips will make it a little easier for you to enjoy all the festive meals without really gaining weight.
If you would like to receive tips like this more often, keep our Instagram page keep an eye on. This is where we post super helpful tips for endurance athletes on a weekly basis.
In the end, it's all about one thing: balance.
Make sure you don't take in too many unnecessary calories, but don't forget to enjoy yourself.
These tips are a guide and it's mostly about having fun with friends and family.
ASW wishes you happy holidays and a super healthy and sporty new year! Let's reach all our goals together!
QUESTIONS?
If you still have questions, don't hesitate to ask them or stop by our store!
