Stay fit over the holidays

Stay fit over the holidays with these useful tips from Ultimate Performance Fitness personal trainer Akash Vaghela.

’Tis the season to be jolly, which means lots of mince pies, mulled wine and other delicious treats. As fun as it can be to throw yourself head first into the festive period, sometimes we do have a tendency to overindulge, which can make it incredibly difficult to keep our fitness levels up to scratch. However, with the right mindset and careful planning you can definitely keep on track with your fitness. Akash Vaghela, personal trainer at Ultimate Performance Fitness, gives us his advice on how to stay fit over the holidays.

Stay hydrated

It’s always important to drink lots of water, but especially when your alcohol intake has increased. ‘Water will help mitigate the delirious effects of alcohol, as well as squash any cravings,’ says Akash. Making sure you drink water before, during and after a heavy night will make you feel a million times better the morning after. Staying hydrated will also help reduce cravings, making it easier for you to steer clear of naughty temptations.

Don’t skip meals

Skipping meals will make you more likely to binge excessively, especially during the Christmas period. You need to select the foods you eat during the day wisely. ‘One of the best tips we give to clients is to focus on protein and fibre intake,’ says Akash. ‘Before going out, a protein shake with some nuts is a great snack to help stabilise blood sugar and reduce cravings.’

Watch out for liquid calories

You need to be aware of the drinks you consume during the party season. ‘Calories can escalate when alcohol is involved,’ says Akash. ‘Given the number of drinking opportunities you’ll have over this festive period, pick your nights wisely, as too many evenings of heavy drinking can quickly undo a lot of your hard work.’ When drinking, stick to clean spirits or small glasses of quality red wine.

Only indulge in festive foods

Being healthy doesn’t mean completely depriving yourself of Christmas food. However, you should put some rules in place. ‘The key with this time of year is to set realistic dietary goals,’ says Akash. ‘A good tactic is to select treats wisely and pick foods only available in holiday season.’ That way, it’ll be easier to lead a healthier lifestyle when the festivities are over.

Train hard

The winter holiday is no time for slacking off. Keep up the training and you’ll feel all the better for it. ‘Training hard will burn a ton of unnecessary calories and keep your metabolism ticking,’ says Akash. ‘While it may not be the time to set any personal bests, plan on doing something active every day, even if it’s only for 30 minutes.’ It’ll be easier to maintain fitness goals if you make them realistic.

Boost your immune system

Training is that much harder when you’re not feeling 100 per cent. During the winter, you need to be especially careful not to fall ill. ‘Given the lack of sunlight in the UK, supplementing with vitamin D3 daily is a wise choice,’ says Akash. ‘Furthermore, keeping on top of your gut health during a time when many new foods are introduced will help keep your immune system functioning well.’

Plan ahead

Setting yourself a future aim and planning your training sessions in advance will give you the drive you need to stay fit over the holidays. ‘What we tell our clients at Ultimate Performance is to grind a little harder in the days between any parties or events, and then enjoy themselves at the function,’ says Akash. ‘This will help create a mini buffer so that any overindulgence is counterbalanced to some degree.’ Consistent planning during winter will set you up well for the New Year.