Miles on the treadmill, weights hitting the floor, plates filled with vegetables \u2014 these likely aren\u2019t scenes that come to mind when you think of the holidays. Rather, what you\u2019ll probably envision are packed calendars that leave little time for exercise and holiday meal spreads filled with decadent eats. It\u2019s easy at this time of year to feel your health goals fall by the wayside \u2014 but that doesn\u2019t have to be the case. There is a scenario in which you can celebrate the season while still supporting your health.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe holidays can be a lot: social gatherings, parties, family traditions, and more. It\u2019s easy to have our regular workouts and normal nutrition thrown off as well as our sleep schedules interrupted,\u201d says Danica Osborn, CPT, on-demand performer in the Life Time app and group fitness instructor at Life Time in Warrenville, Ill. \u201cDuring this season, I try not to let the short-term disruption to my routine permanently throw off my long-term goals. I do this by continuing to prioritize healthy habits \u2014 even if that looks different than my typical routine.\u201d<\/p>\n
To inspire you to enjoy this special time of the year without leaving your health goals on the back burner, we asked several Life Time class instructors to share how they find balance during the busy season.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s certainly OK to dig into holiday treats, but Life Time experts suggest taking a balanced approach.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remind myself that food is more than fuel; it\u2019s also culture, celebration, and love,\u201d says David Freeman, CPT, CCP, PES, senior director of signature coach excellence and cohost of the Life Time Talks<\/em><\/a> podcast. \u201cSo, if you indulge, do it with intention and without guilt. What matters most is consistency over time \u2014 not perfection in a single week.\u201d<\/p>\n Before heading to a party where she knows her favorite festive treats will be served, Osborn eats some fiber-rich and lean-protein foods. \u201cThis way, I\u2019m less tempted to overfill my plate with holiday treats and can enjoy them in moderation,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n In addition to getting your nutrients earlier in the day, try to not eat too late at night, advises Jessie Syfko, senior vice president of Life Time Digital and creator of MB360<\/a>. \u201cEven if you indulge on food, stopping a few hours before bed will give your body a chance to digest before you sleep, which improves quality of rest.\u201d<\/p>\n Fitness experts emphasize that workouts are meant to work for<\/em> you, not against you.<\/p>\n \u201cI continue to prioritize movement, even if it looks a little different during the hustle and bustle of the holidays,\u201d says Osborn. \u201cThat might look like just a walk some days, or a shorter workout than normal if I\u2019m low on time. Or, I may have to do a few more at-home workouts; fortunately, Life Time offers great virtual live-stream and on-demand offerings to keep people moving from anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n Freeman concurs: \u201cThat might mean shorter workouts, walks with my family, or catching an on-demand workout<\/a> on the Life Time app.\u201d And even if you do indulge a little more on holiday goodies, don\u2019t look at movement as punishment for eating, he adds. \u201cMovement is a way to stay energized and feel good through the season.\u201d<\/p>\n Syfko navigates the holidays with a lot of self-love and grace to enjoy time spent with family and friends \u2014 without the guilt. \u201cTo feel my best, I use the holidays to engage in fun fitness events,\u201d she says. \u201cI also plan any weekly events in advance to make sure I have time set aside for myself and my health.\u201d<\/p>\n Although your to-do list might be long, it\u2019s important to take intentional time to rest and recover during these last weeks of the year.<\/p>\n \u201cI continue to prioritize sleep<\/a> as much as possible, even while traveling or as we\u2019re celebrating the holidays,\u201d says Osborn. \u201cSleep strengthens our immune systems<\/a> and aids in better mental health \u2014 both of which can be compromised during the holidays.\u201d She also likes to drink some calming herbal peppermint tea before bed.<\/p>\n Prioritizing rest is also a tool that can help, rather than hinder, your fitness progress, notes Shelby Hicks, CEP, 500hr E-RYT, yoga instructor at Life Time High Performance in New York City. \u201cTaking a few days off during the holidays isn\u2019t falling behind \u2014 it can be strategic recovery,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u201cThe truth is, a few days of extra food or missed workouts won\u2019t undo months of progress,\u201d she continues. \u201cIn fact, if you\u2019ve been training hard \u2014 especially with strength training \u2014 those extra calories can actually support<\/em> muscle growth and recovery. \u201cFood is fuel, and a brief increase in calories can be beneficial during periods of intense training or even when you\u2019re taking time off to rest.\u201d<\/p>\n Maintaining a workout regimen is important, but the ability to roll with any deviations during a busier schedule can lead to more sustainable progress in the long run, our experts note.<\/p>\n During the holiday season, Kenny Ferrer, high performance coach, mind and body trainer, and yoga and meditation teacher at Life Time High Performance, adopts an attitude of adaptability. \u201cRather than writhe in reactivity to setbacks in my normal routine, I anticipate them,\u201d he explains. \u201cI recommend responding to the ups and downs with \u2018soft reset\u2019 moments. By that I mean making an effort to pause as you notice things shift and change and asking yourself, What is the next best step from here?<\/em> Then, act on the answer to that question,\u201d he suggests. \u201cSoft resets are opportunities to start again from where you are.\u201d<\/p>\n Health is always about the journey, not the destination, says Obsborn. \u201cAt the end of the day, we should make the memories, honor the traditions, and count the blessings \u2014 not worry about the number of steps or let calories get in the way.\u201d<\/p>\n For Freeman, the holidays are about balance and perspective. \u201cI don\u2019t believe in an all-or-nothing mindset when it comes to health, especially during a season that\u2019s centered on connection, tradition, and joy,\u201d he says. \u201cAt the end of the day, health during the holidays isn\u2019t just about eating or working out; it\u2019s about creating memories, managing stress, and enjoying the people and moments that matter most.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the most important things you can do for your health during this time isn\u2019t sticking to workouts or watching every bite of food, it\u2019s being kind to yourself, adds Hicks. \u201cGiving yourself some downtime helps allow your muscles to repair, your nervous system to reset, and your motivation to recharge,\u201d she explains. \u201cWhen you get back into your regular routine, you\u2019ll often find that your body and mind are more than ready to get after your goals again.\u201d<\/p>\n Rather than pressuring yourself to commit to a whole routine, selecting one or two habits to focus on can relieve some stress while you\u2019re still prioritizing your health goals.<\/p>\n \u201cI have a regular wellness practice that involves daily meditation, daily movement, and daily gratitude journaling, but the holiday season tends to require something more to stay on track,\u201d says Ferrer. \u201cChoose a wellness habit or two to commit to, start again when you need to, and enjoy all there is to enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n And remember that all things pass, he adds. \u201cThe holidays are an opportunity for connection, kind regard, and generosity.\u201d<\/p>\n Hicks notes that long-term health isn\u2019t built in a week, and it\u2019s not lost in one either. \u201cTrust your foundation,\u201d she advises. \u201cEnjoy the season. Move when it feels good. Eat with joy, not guilt. And know that the second you step back into your routine, everything will start to click back into place.\u201d<\/p>\n The post 6 Tips for Balancing Holiday Indulgence With Healthy Living<\/a> appeared first on Experience Life<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Miles on the treadmill, weights hitting the floor, plates filled with vegetables \u2014 these likely aren\u2019t scenes that come to mind when you think of the holidays. Rather, what you\u2019ll probably envision are packed calendars that leave little time for exercise and holiday meal spreads filled with decadent eats. It\u2019s easy at this time of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33149,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33148","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-life"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-10-25 19:14:46","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33148","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33148"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33148\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33149"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33148"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33148"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpnewswire.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33148"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}2. Make movement simple.<\/h2>\n
3. Prioritize rest and recovery.<\/h2>\n
4. Anticipate deviations, rather than react to them.<\/h2>\n
5. Go easy on yourself.<\/h2>\n
6. Choose one or two habits to stick with.<\/h2>\n