The holidays can be so busy, with holiday parties, Christmas concerts, gift exchanges, and family and friend get togethers.
Where does running and health fit in?
First, let’s think about the benefits of fitting in running
Running and healthy eating during the holidays are ways for you to take care of yourself PHYSICALLY. Running builds strength, helps to control the balance between energy input/output (aka calories). Eating healthy allows you to get the nutrients that your body needs to give you energy and avoid stomach upset and that sluggish feeling you get after eating highly processed or heavy foods.
Running through the holidays is a way to care for yourself MENTALLY. It is a huge source of stress relief for many people. It releases those good hormones called endorphins, which help us to feel happier and more stress-free. It helps to decrease that guilty feeling. You know that you always feel better knowing you got the run in. Even if you don't want to do it, you never regret it afterwards.
Keeping up your running and healthy eating are proof that you are taking care of yourself. You are continuing to write the narrative that you are the kind of person that prioritizes your health and fitness. Finally, it keeps you on track towards your goals. Let's face it: you can't take a whole month off and expect no negative consequences.
But what if running, a training plan, or healthy eating get in the way and actually make you feel worse?
Missed workouts due to obligations or bad weather can make some people feel worse about themselves, like they are failing. A training plan can sometimes become an obligation that causes more stress.
Healthy eating can be hard at holiday parties - always trying to find the healthy option can get exhausting and for some people, it can cause them to avoid social events that might not have “healthy options”.
So let’s look at the big picture…
Running and healthy eating are great habits and should be continued as much as possible through the holidays so that you feel good.
Keep it all in perspective - miss a workout, it’s not the end of the world Have some indulgences - it’s going to be ok Take pressure of perfection off - live by 80/20 - if you do well 80% of the time, you’re winningGive yourself grace and spend time in gratitude for the love surrounding you during the holidays. Take time to soak it all in.
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