The Festive Run In

The Festive Run In

Over the last week or so I have started to hear a few things quite regularly:

"I'm worried about not being able to keep up with training over the festive period"

"I'm finding it hard to fit everything in with Christmas as well"

Whether it is training or nutrition we often talk about things being taken in moderation, the reality is over Christmas we sometimes go to the extremes. That could be going on a few Christmas nights out and having a few too many every time, taking a complete month off of exercise or gorging all things in sight the whole month long. I also see people going the other direction and going super strict, blocking all festivities out and going harder than ever.

As always, if that's your thing, you go for it BUT my view is that you deserve to have fun and it is possible to balance exercising and a social/ family life.

Everything in moderation right? And maybe balance looks a little different over the Festive period! If you prioritise health and fitness all year round it's completely acceptable, arguably advisable, for the balance to tilt slightly the other way for a couple of weeks…

• A few nights out to socialise with friends, eat tasty food and relax

• A few extra chocolates from the tin because why not

• Just doing a few shorter or easier sessions to keep the body ticking over or maybe a few long walks with family/ friends instead of a gym session

• Some longer lay ins or lazy days on the sofa

Yes the balance is slightly leaning towards socialising, relaxing and recovery but as I said in a world where you lean the other way the vast majority of the year then you deserve some time to relax. If you have built positive habits all year the reality is you will probably be yearning for what your normally do anyway which is a fantastic position to be in. As long as you don't knock yourself so far out of the routine that it will be impossible to get back into then you are likely to roll into January (a traditionally difficult month) refreshed, relaxed and ready to make 2025 the best year of your life.

Enjoy!

Andy