'Tis the season for gift-giving, family gatherings, and delicious food. Although these events make this time of year so special, they can often prevent you from remaining on track to reach your current fitness goals. Unfortunately, once you fall off track, it becomes that much easier to delay your progress and inevitably say, “I’ll make it my resolution for next year”. Sound familiar? To avoid falling into this never-ending cycle, it’s crucial to learn how to make time for the gym and eat well along the way. Explore Healthtrax's tips to staying motivated this season so you can greet the New Year with excellent health.

 1.    Prep your holiday workout plan ahead of time

Whether you’re traveling around the holidays, or plan on staying home, it's essential you prepare your exercise workouts accordingly. For instance, perhaps you're traveling to visit relatives in another state. Research the area you’re traveling to, and the time you will be there. Make sure you create a travel holiday workout plan that works for you, and one that will be easy to follow along wherever you’re located. For instance, during your travel dates, plan to go on a nearby hiking trail or visit a Healthtrax gym if there’s one available where you’re staying. Also, Healthtrax’s participation in the IHRSA Passport Program, powered by TrainAway, gives members the opportunity to easily access quality health clubs all over the world.

This can understandably be a difficult time to grasp exercise motivation, but it can arguably be the most important. If you want to prioritize being with family during this time, plan your holiday workout plan to include them in it. This way, your workouts don’t cut into much needed family time, and you can encourage each other to stay motivated along the way. 

 2.    Morning workout motivation

Do you find in the winter that once it hits evening, you have no time left over for workouts? That’s understandable, considering how busy our lives become during the holiday season. One way around this is to make time for working out before your day begins – and for that, you'll need some morning workout motivation. The earlier you wake up, the less your day will be affected by your workout, allowing you to make more time for your friends and family. However, morning in the winter can call for brisk air and rough weather, which can make exercising outside deterring for someone looking for a high cardio workout. Luckily, Healthtrax locations offer indoor pools so that you can do a competitive workout no matter the outdoor temperature. Swimming works out all the body's major muscles, so even a 30-minute swim can just what you need. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates on our holiday gym schedule, so you can find the best time to come in for a morning swim.

3.    Saturday workouts – remain active even on the weekends

Just because it's the weekend, doesn't mean you should halt the workout efforts you held during the week. Check out our locations page to pick an ideal location for you, and have access to our different weekend exercise schedules. For help planning how your Saturday workout can look, contact a Trax Trainer. Trax Trainers are certified personal trainers who can design you a personalized program to match your goals. To ensure you won't skip a workout session over the weekend, set an alarm Friday night to remind yourself to visit the gym the next day. The weekend can also bring you more time to meal prep for the week, so you can better commit to eating healthy the following week.

4.    Find a weekly workout class

Staying motivated week after week can be difficult around the holidays, as you become busier. However, no matter how busy you feel, it is always possible to set aside an hour a week towards working out. To make sure you attend that workout session, sign up for a weekly workout group. These classes range from everything, from cardio to cycling. Find a workout that fits your needs the best, and sign up for weekly classes, so you can never think about it again – except to remind yourself to go! Take a peek at our weekly workout schedule, and find a class that takes place at a time and location most convenient to you.

5.    Try an alternate kind of workout to aid your mind and body

Your typical workout may not make the most sense for this season. The holidays are hectic and stressful after all, and you may want to set aside some time for a mindful exercise to keep you on your toes. Healthtrax provides numerous yoga and Pilates classes that help the mind and body from all different levels. Similar to how you handled  exercise and self-motivation tips during Thanksgiving, make sure to hold for the upcoming holidays. Contact your local Healthtrax so you can develop a holiday workout routine to help you do so.

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