5 MYTHS ABOUT FITNESS AND FOOD THAT WE NEED TO FORGET ABOUT THIS CHRISTMAS
W L W L
FITNESS
5 MYTHS ABOUT FITNESS AND FOOD THAT WE NEED TO FORGET ABOUT THIS CHRISTMAS
By Charlotte Forde , Elevate Fitness
Christmas is definitely the season for celebration however it can be a stressful time for so many people and the thought of being out of a healthy routine can be concerning with the potential impact of overindulging on food and alcohol as well as reducing physical activity . Unfortunately , there is no magic Christmas workout which will counteract the tray of chocolates that you ate for breakfast and it is important that this messaging along with other myths surrounding fitness and food over the festive period doesn ’ t create unnecessary worry and stress . So , I am here to keep it real and set the record straight .
Myth # 1 Skip meals and save calories
However tempting it may be to “ save ” calories by skipping meals or intentionally under-eating to compensate for a big meal or party later in the day can work if you are already used to fasting consistently however if you are not used to not eating for longer durations or having smaller meals , this can lead to increased cravings or eating more calories than if you would have followed your normal diet regime beforehand . Therefore , it is better to stick to your regular meals choosing foods that leave you feeling satisfied and energised .
Myth # 2 Earn or burn extra Christmas calories with exercise
Viewing exercise as a way to earn or burn food isn ’ t the best way to look at any scenario . The calories that we consume are what fuels our bodies and regardless of that probably being more than we may need over the festive period , that ’ s okay ! Just like any holiday it is quite normal to consume more calories than necessary but it is all part of the enjoyment . Use exercise to maintain your fitness , strength and overall well being not as a punishment for overeating and as soon as the celebrations have finished get back on track and only focus forward .
Myth # 3 Skipping exercise ruins progress
Recovery is sometimes just as important as your work in the gym . Taking a small break from exercise can actually aid progress , especially if you are used to a full on programme . If you are used to consistently lifting weights and your gym is closed over the festive period , there is nothing stopping you from taking a different form of exercise that you may not necessarily normally do which could benefit your overall fitness by adding variety and support your muscle growth and repair .
Myth # 4 The best hangover cure is the hair of the dog
There is probably no better myth than drinking alcohol to recover from a hangover aka the “ hair of the dog ”. While it may feel like a temporary relief , unfortunately it will only delay the inevitable so when your blood alcohol levels drop you could potentially feel worse . The best hangover cure is plenty of water , consume carbohydrates , intake plenty of vitamins and take a cold shower .
Myth # 5 You can compensate for Christmas indulgence with a January detox
There are so many businesses that will market January detox and cleanses and it will feel really easy to get caught up in these adverts especially when you feel like you have overindulged over the festive period . The fact is that the body is very efficient at removing waste and toxins on its own , ‘ detox diets ’ are mainly made up of laxatives making them unbalanced and unrealistic .
64 wirrallife . com