This morning, upon getting up, I found in my e-mail box the latest issue of Tom Venuto’s newsletter. Although its first article dealt with something I had already decided for myself, it had the nice side-effect of actually reaffirming my commitment.
Whether its a pound or ten pounds, did you ever ask yourself why does holiday weight gain happen at all? Here are some common answers I’ve heard:
“I’m too busy over the holidays to work out as often as usual.”
“I’m more stressed over the holidays, and the food is there, so I eat more.”
“I have at least three parties to attend and then there’s christmas and New Year’s, so it’s impossible to stay on a diet”
“No one can tell me not to enjoy myself over the holidays so I’m just going to eat whatever I want.”These answers all have a few things in common. First, they assume that it’s an either/or proposition: You can either get in better shape or enjoy yourself, but not both. Stated in reverse: You can either deprive yourself of holiday enjoyments or gain weight, but it has to be one or the other. The truth is, “either/or thinking” is a very limiting form of thinking.
And what have I decided? Exactly that. That holidays would not be an excuse to gorge myself on food I don’t even really want, nor to keep my arse stuck on a chair or a couch all day long. Because my body does not care whether it’s Christmas, New Year or the birthday of the Great Cthulhu. The needs it has all year long remain the same during the holidays. It’s only logical.
Of course, the campus gym is closed until January 7, and I will not be able to lift weights (unless I shell out 10 bucks and go to the gym in my neighbourhood, which, mind you, I am very tempted to go, since I really like strength-training). But nothing prevents me from popping a Walk Away The Pounds in my computer and work out at home, or go talk a brisk walk, or whatever. Christmas does not mean I have to become a couch potato, even temporarily.
Seriously? If I am able to find the time and commitment to stay in front of my PC for two hours on the morning of the 25th before everyone gets up, then I can very likely find the time to do one hour of cardio. It’s all a matter of choosing one’s priorities, and being fit and healthy is more of a priority for me than pigging out on truffles. (I ate some dark chocolate truffles recently; I was very disappointed, because they were way too sweet to my taste. So much for the ‘pleasure’ it was supposed to bring.)
I so totally agree with Venuto on this. We can have fun and enjoy food during the holidays without abandoning an exercise routine and without hoarding food like there’s no tomorrow. Getting up early to exercise won’t be very different from getting up early to check my e-mails before tackling the housework of Doom. And even if I do “only” half a hour of cardio, this half hour will do better for my mood and my body than an extra half hour of sleep or TV or whatever.
Therefore, I commit to exercising at least half a hour every day (yes, even on the 25th or 26th), and to enjoy my food without going overboard, which won’t be too hard, especially now that I have imposed the presence of vegetables on the table. (I will have to relate that tale later, because it’s both hilarious and tragic all at once. No kidding.)
And I already know I’ll actually be happy about it, because for once, I won’t feel like crap during the holidays!
- Kery, determined to not slack off (too much) during the holidays
