Pep Talk
Another summer has come and gone. Labor Day is but a memory now. The parties, the intense work-outs, and the dieting are soon forgotten. Well, wrong—at least for the working out and the dieting. Don’t get stupid and slow down or even stop your workout regimen. We are now facing the real test—the holidays will soon be here. You may have looked fab at the beach this year, but don’t forget that it’s easier to stay in shape than to give up and “take it easy.” It’s really easy to put the weight back on.
Along with the holidays comes the temptation to imbibe and drink alcohol. Let me repeat this again. Muscles and alcohol just don’t mix. By drinking alcohol after your lifting routine, you may have slowed down your muscle recovery. Research shows that men and women who drank alcohol after lifting were weaker two days later than lifters who hadn’t had a drink. It’s been shown that alcohol affects your immune system’s function thereby slowing muscle tissue repair.
Holiday foods can be really tempting, and will ruin your diet. Friends and family will offer you foods that you know you can have and ones you know you shouldn’t. By all means eat the good stuff—within reason—and politely decline the bad stuff offered. Think “clean protein” items that are muscle building and avoid items that put on fast pounds. You can eat small portions of the bad stuff. A serving of cake, pie, stuffing, gravies, and ice cream won’t kill you, but make it small.
Along with the change in seasons often comes a change in your workout. Don’t stop! Continue your regimen. In fact, it is a good time to change around your routine. Try something different. A yoga class, jogging, spinning class, or an aerobics class can add some interesting moves and challenges. Or, hire a personal trainer to really put you through the mill. You will learn new and interesting moves and exercises. Try getting a workout partner, it really works. That way you can keep each other motivated. Work together to create a workout schedule, and stick to it.
Traveling will really put a damper on your workout regimen. When Nick and I travel one of the first things we do is seek out an area gym and check it out. New gyms can be really fun and a great change of pace. They have different equipment that can appeal to you. By all means use it, and compare it to the equipment you train on at home.
Ask around about some really good and decent eateries. Eating restaurant food while traveling can wreck your diet. Excess salt and fat are a trademark of many an eatery. Fast food places are a serious threat to your waistline. Nick and I will check out the local grocery markets. They offer fresh choices and the nutrition label is there to check out the good, the bad, and the ugly. Drink water and don’t be tempted by high calorie breads, soda, vitamin water, Gatorades, iced teas, and such.
Keeping fit throughout the year is tough but with a lot of perseverance and fortitude, you can be successful in your fitness goal. Good health and good luck.
Rick Moore is a personal trainer certified by the American Fitness Professionals & Associates.