5 Reasons to Workout During the Holidays

 Admittedly I was not on track like I should have been around Thanksgiving and then I had a dream...one that I had gained 140 lbs over the holidays. Needless to say my booty has been back in the gym almost everyday since then! With the Christmas holiday quickly approaching, schedules filling up and the temperatures dropping workouts can be the first to go for me. But, I'm encouraging myself and you to stick with (or start) exercising through this bustling season for these reasons:

1. Reduce Your Stress For some of us, the holidays can be a stressful time of year and working out definitely helps to alleviate the stress and tensions. Even if I don't feel like going to the gym, by the time I am finished, I feel so much better! I have never regretted a workout but I have regretted not working out. Working out helps clear my mind and improve my mood a ton! I know one helpful tip for myself is to never miss a Monday at the gym. Mondays set the tone for my week.

2. Working Out Helps You Eat Healthier This is true for me, but I wonder is it true for you too? When I'm working out consistently, I tend to eat a lot better. I recognize that I worked hard at the gym and I don't want to blow it by eating terrible. If I'm not working out I tend to eat badly which leads me to indulging in way too may desserts, snacks and drinks. And I mean drinks of all kinds from hot chocolate, wine to cocktails especially at all the Christmas parties and happy hours. 

3. Finish Strong For me, I've worked really fairly hard at getting in shape and I want to maintain what I've accomplished. I have a long ways to go but I don't want to have to start from the beginning. If you've done the same, don't spoil it by quitting now!

4. Be Ahead of the Game for the New Year When the New Year comes and everyone is resolving to "get in shape" you'll already be ahead of the game! I look forward to this feeling every year!

5. No Guilt for Small Indulgences I try to watch what I eat most of the time, but I admit to having a small addiction this time of year to hot chocolate especially and other yummy holiday snacks! I don't think a total withdraw is a good thing (or fun at all) and knowing I workout helps remind me that it's alright to indulge during the holiday without feeling guilty. Just not so much to were I gain 140 lbs! Ah!! 

Putting this all in a post helps motivate me to continue my efforts at getting and staying fit...as well as the dang Victoria Secret Fashion Show! Those beautiful Angels get me every year, instant motivation! I hope post this is motivating to others as well. What are some helpful tips you have for staying active and healthy through the holiday?

 

Making Getting Fit Easier

I am a strong believer that working out is nonnegotiable in my life but sometimes dang it, it's hard to be motivated to hit the gym after a long day! I have found that there are some things that make it a little easier to be motivated to sweat it out. I hope that these tips might help someone as well, all trial and error of course and completely depends on the person.

 

 

One, I try to never miss a Monday. If I miss a Monday I always, always regret it. I find that if I start out the week right then the week seems to be a little easier to be motivated. Plus, typically after weekends that's when I feel like I need a workout the most. I typically try to workout three or four times a week so usually that does not include being at the gym on weekends. Sometimes the week falls a part and I find myself there on a Friday or Saturday morning. I love a Saturday morning yoga session so that's not always bad.

 

 

Two, I try to always set my clothes out and anything I need for my workout the night before. I find if I am not rushing in the morning before work then I am way more likely to be prepared and fit the gym into my day. If it's all in my gym bag and ready to grab then I have zero excuses to not get my sweat on!

 

Gym-Ropes from Kristen on Vimeo.

 

Three, something that has definitely been working for me is going to workout at slower times during the day. I know for me I am much more intimidated if I walk into the gym after five o'clock and it is packed with hardcore iron pumping men, or women. I am way less likely to branch out of my normal workout routine if this is the case. So, I've been going either later at night, on my lunch break or early a couple times a week. When its slower I've been incorporating different exercise in my routine since I'm less likely to feel like twenty people are watching me. I know they aren't but when its my first time to try something I like to do it without worrying if I'm doing it wrong. Lets just say if its crowded and something requires me to rack my weights, I'm probably not doing it. I know, I'm a baby. Anyways, I'm always wanting to try the ropes but its always so the other night I got the chance. Whew, my arms were feeling it! 

 

 

Four, I try to keep some healthy snacks on hand. Throw a couple bars in my purse, one in my desk at work with a bag of almonds giving me no excuse. If I am out running errands and start starving if I have a bar on hand then that takes care of me being tempted to pull into a drive through or pick up a crappy snack at the gas station.

Five, along with healthy snacks bringing my lunch to work. This eliminates me picking something up at a fast food joint for lunch...except for the days that my coworkers peer pressure me into the temptation! Salads with tuna or grilled chicken and lettuce wraps are my go-to-meals a lot of times. My wraps are just sandwiches wrapped in lettuce and skipping out on the bread. My salads I find myself taking the chicken we had for dinner the night before and chopping it up and throwing it in. If we have chicken, if not tuna a lot of the time. Also, I've been mixing a can of tuna, half of an avocado, a little bit of light mayo and throwing it into a spinach wrap.

Borrowed from google cause apparently I don't take pics of my water bottles, dang it!

 

Lastly, I've been trying to drink more water. Ah the struggle!!! I don't drink pop and I haven't in over five years but I do drink a lot of tea. So, in the afternoons when my tea runs out instead of going to get another one as a pick me up I've been bringing fruit to work to put in my water. If its flavored I find myself drinking five times as much water.

I hope that some of these tips may help you to either get motivated or to stay motivated with being fit! I know that I need lots of motivation and I don't have a workout partner so I look for it in other ways. These are just a few that have worked for me. Do you have tips that you found are good motivators? I'd love to hear from you guys! 

   

Homemade Easy Instant Oatmeal Packets

I am not a big breakfast eater, at all, and if its not fast and easy then you can usually count me out. I try to find healthy, easy and on the go ideas to ensure I do eat breakfast. I typically grab anything that I can eat on my drive to work and unfortunately a lot of the time this means things that aren't so healthy, like many breakfast bars that are packed with sugar. I have also been a big fan of the Quaker weight control oatmeal but even that has more sugar than I would like to have. So, when I read Brittany's post at Perpetually Daydreaming where she shared these oatmeal packets I jumped on the idea!

These packets are fast, easy and low in sugar and preservatives. Since I know exactly what is going into my breakfast each morning I feel a lot better. I made five individual bags so all I have to do this week is grab one and pop in the microwave while I make my lunch for work.

Homemade Instant Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Ingredients

1/3 cup old fashioned oats

1 tablespoon powdered milk

1 tablespoon brown sugar (or less, to taste. I used about a half of tbsp)

pinch of salt

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1-2 tablespoons chopped dried apples

1 tablespoon raisins

1 tablespoon chopped walnuts (I left these out, but will add to my next batch)

Directions

Add all ingredients into individual bags.

To cook the oatmeal, add the contents of one packet and 2/3 cup water to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high 3-4 minutes, or until oats are softened and water is absorbed. 

These are so easy, took me all of fifteen minutes to put five bags together and I have breakfast for the whole week. AND so easy to eat on the go! You can find the originally recipe along with a couple of other flavor options here. Enjoy!

 

Crispy Zucchini Fries

This week I've tried several new recipes and these zucchini fries were a yummy success! Are you looking for a healthy side option to throw into your rotation for dinners? These are perfect! I'm always on the search for different but healthy options and these will definitely be a repeat in our kitchen.

Monday evening I whipped up these zucchini fries as a side for dinner. I have seen several versions of these floating around the internet but this is how I chose to make ours.

Zucchini Fries

Ingredients

½ cup dry Italian breadcrumbs

½ cup powdered parmesan cheese

1 tsp. salt

½ tsp. black pepper

2 tsp. all-purpose flour

¼ cup milk

2 zucchinis

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425º F. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray or use parchment paper to cover the bottom of the baking sheet.
2. In a medium bowl, add the breadcrumbs, parmesan, salt, pepper and flour. Mix together.
3. Cut the ends off the zucchini and slice in half lengthwise. Then cut each half into fourths. Then cut each of the long pieces in half again crosswise to make matchstick-type fries.
4. Pour the milk in a medium sized bowl. Dunk the zucchini sticks into the milk and then dredge into the breadcrumb mixture. Place on the baking sheet in a single layer and repeat until all zucchini are coated.
5. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp.

I served them with homemade ranch dressing for dipping. These were such a fun, healthy and delicious side. I paired them with grilled pork chops and a side salad. My husband loved them! Have you made these before? Or do you have another version, I'd love to hear!