Ask the trainer: Stay fit all year round

STAY FIT ALL YEAR ROUND

Looking at how the holidays are scheduled in the calendar, it’s almost like the universe put them in a specific order to try and test (sabotage?) our efforts.

BY NICHELLE LAUS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVE LAUS

Q: How do I stay on track?

A: The year begins with resolutions and a huge rush to get back on track and start a healthier lifestyle, but we quickly get tempted by the Valentine’s Day chocolates, or maybe the day-a er chocolate sales.

Less than a month later St. Patrick’s Day, closely followed by Easter, means beer closely followed by more chocolate. And then the Memorial Day/Victoria Day celebrations and BBQ season lead us into the Canada Day cookouts. From there it seems as though Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas fall in line with more temptations and family functions to attend.

So, what can we do about it?

GO WITH A PLAN

Prioritize foods that will help you reach your goals, while leaving a little room for foods you want to enjoy. Grab protein and veggies first and foremost, then a little carb. Make sure your plate is colorful and start with the raw items while moving towards the cooked proteins. If you fill up on healthy satiating choices first, then you’ll end up having less room to indulge in the sugary desserts.

GET OUT OF YOUR OWN HEAD

Don’t think, “Well, I deserve this…”, because the second you walk into Grandma’s house and smell her cookies, you instantly think of foods you’ve been missing out on. We’re not dogs—humans shouldn’t be rewarded with food. Challenge yourself to stay present and focus on your bigger goals. Achieving what you’ve set for yourself will be the ultimate reward. But also don’t feel bad if you indulge in a taste of Grandma’s cookies.

DON’T OVERCOMPENSATE THE DAY AFTER

If you overeat on Saturday, and then undereat on Sunday, you’ll be super hungry again on Monday. If you do end up overeating, get back on track the next day with your normally scheduled macros. Get back to the gym and use that fuel to have a killer training session. And by Monday you’ll be appropriately set up to start the new week with a clear plan.

TREAT IT LIKE ANY OTHER DAY

We all want to enjoy the holidays, but we tend to let ourselves go just because “it’s a holiday” and switch off the discipline we’ve worked so hard to cultivate and develop. Treat it like any other day. Go in with a plan, stay focused on your larger goals, and enjoy the time focused on family and friends rather than food and sweets.

Nichelle Laus is the owner of Optimum Training Centre in Toronto, Ontario. A fitness and cover model, figure and bikini competitor, competition preparation and transformation coach for Team Laus, she is a certified personal trainer and kickboxing and kettlebell instructor. Nichelle is also a motivational speaker and the proud mom of four young boys.

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