4 Ways to Stick to Your Fitness Goals During the Holidays

You’re out there living #aSweatlife. You’ve put in the hours, hard work, and dedication to your training routine and fitness goals — YOU DESERVE TO ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS!

And guess what? You totally can celebrate this season without completely derailing from your fitness goals. Here are four ways for you to maintain your progress while enjoying the holiday season, courtesy of Ladies Who Lift.

person working out during holidays

1. Let go of the “all or nothing” mentality

The biggest mistake I see people make is thinking that if they can’t be perfect, then it’s not worth trying. They give up, thinking that they can start over on Jan. 1. The most successful people are the ones who know that something is better than nothing.

You can’t make it to the gym five days a week? 

You’re back at home and don’t have access to your regular studio? That’s OKAY! All is not lost!

Do what you can, with what you have. 

Work out three days a week instead of your normal five. 

Go for 30 minutes instead of your normal 60. 

Do body weight exercises instead of using barbells and dumbbells for your strength training routine.

People who adapt and modify workouts to fit the varying events and seasons throughout the year will have much more success long-term than people who give up when things aren’t perfect. Know that things aren’t going to be perfect, and know that’s okay!

The holidays tend to be stressful enough. Don’t let trying to maintain your exact workout regimen add to your stress. Just have the discipline to do what you can, and don’t give up.

2. Plan ahead

You won’t have the structure of your normal routine, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have ANY routine. Create a plan that’s realistic and attainable, and then stick to it. Plan your workout around your events and dedicate that time to yourself. Plan ahead and bring workout clothes and some equipment. You can’t bring a barbell to your grandma’s house but you can fit bands or a suspension trainer in your suitcase.

We really love mini bands, long bands with a door attachment, and suspension trainers. Over the pandemic, we also got REALLY good at bodyweight workouts and using what we have around the house as weights. So you might not have weights… but do you have a dog? Bottle of wine? Backpack? Suitcase? You can use those things!

3. Practice saying no

Often, we let being polite people-pleasers sabotage what’s true to us. Stay true to you this holiday season. If your family is sitting down to watch a movie but you’d rather go work out? You can work out. If someone is inviting you to go out for drinks but you’d rather go to bed so you can get a full eight hours of rest? You can go to sleep.

Partake in anything that brings you joy and spend time with your family, but don’t let peer pressure change what’s true to you. Listen to your body and honor your body.

4. Give yourself grace

This one is for my perfectionists. If you tend to be super hard on yourself when you don’t live up to your expectations, I want you to practice being kinder to yourself. Give yourself permission to not be perfect. If you feel like you’ve regressed with your fitness, it’s okay.

Move on with your life and continue practicing. Living a healthy lifestyle is a practice after all, and no one is perfect. Hopefully you enjoyed time with your family, laughed until your heart cracked open, and got some good sleep. 

Move Recovery & Mobility

About Amy Potter

Amy is a Certified Personal Trainer and Holistic Health Coach with Ladies Who Lift. She loves helping women heal their relationship with their bodies, and with food. She guides women on a journey to feel strong, confident, and capable through weight lifting and intuitive eating. In her free time, she can be found taking long walks on the beach, petting dogs, or talking about politics.