As the tail end of the year looms large, many of our thoughts turn towards Christmas and the fun and festivities that the Yuletide period brings. There are many reasons why we love this time of year: a couple of weeks away from work, perhaps, or the fact that we may see friends or relatives that we haven’t in months.
The festive period, of course, is a time where we will typically eat far more than we would during any other time of year. We will we attend parties and eat heartily with our families, right up to when it is time to head back to work. If you are a personal trainer, it’s a good time to chat to your clients about how to enjoy the festive season and maintain what they have worked hard for throughout the year.
On average, Australians put on 0.8 – 1.5 kilograms over the Christmas period.
An article on the Nutrition Australia website states that, on average, Australians put on 0.8 – 1.5 kilograms over the Christmas period. So, before your clients head off on their holidays, here are a few tips to help them maintain what they have worked hard to achieve. Your clients should be able to unwind and enjoy the season without the guilt and keep a certain level of fitness to ward off the excesses of Christmas:
The early bird catches the worm
Encouraging your clients to make an early start to their workouts over the holidays is an excellent way to keep things ticking along smoothly. That Is because, at Christmas, even though your clients may be away from work, they could still have a whole host of family commitments and suchlike.
If they can get their exercise done at the crack of dawn (or as early as possible), they have the rest of the day to see friends and family. An early workout also sets them up marvellously for the day ahead, so it is a win-win situation!
Christmas is a time of eating, drinking and being merry – but it’s important not to overindulge.Rope in friends and family
One of the core values of Christmas is spending time with friends and family. If your client has a fitness-minded loved one that they will be spending a fair amount of time with over this time, you should encourage them to work out with them whenever they can.
A big positive of exercising with someone else is the fact that it is easier to stay motivated. Those mornings where your client just does not feel like heading out for a run will be eradicated when their friends arrive in running gear, so they’ll keep themselves in the best shape possible over the tempting Christmas period!
Enjoy the variety of foods – but keep an eye on your portions
Enjoy the variety of food on offer, just make sure you take small portions, and your waistline will thank you for it.
