Tips for Returning to Your Workout Routine After the Holiday Break

Introduction

As holidays mean indulgence in food and drink, it’s only natural that returning to your workout routine after the holiday break is an event everyone dreads. It can be very easy to get carried away with the holiday spirit and completely neglect your diet and exercise. But all those carbs will undoubtedly impact your performance and make your return to the gym that much more difficult.

To help you get back to your healthy habits as quickly and as easily as possible, we’ve prepared some tips.

Five Tips to Help You Return to Your Workout Routine after the Holiday

We all tend to have “cheat days” during holidays. Some of us even allow us to have “cheat weeks.” As it can happen to anyone, it’s not worth beating yourself up about it. Instead, focus on getting back on track with your healthier habits.

Further in this article, we’ll let you know how to make returning to your workout routine after the holiday break as easy as possible. However, keep in mind that you need to adjust your diet, too, and focus on trying out some fantastic healthy recipes for your workouts to have an effect.

1. Go easy on yourself

It’s entirely natural for your body to decondition itself after a break from working out. Therefore, don’t feel discouraged because you can’t simply continue with the same level of exercise. Instead, start slowly, be patient, and you’ll soon get back to shape. Don’t push yourself too hard, as the last thing you want is to get injured.

Start with easier workouts, and as you progress, slowly increase their duration and intensity. It’s much better to ease your way gently back into your routine. For instance, if you are planning on using kettlebells in your routine, first do your research and find less demanding exercises to start with.

Small wins will help you build up confidence. On the other hand, if you start with training that’s too intense, you’re risking getting overwhelmed too quickly and giving up on your routine.

2. Change your food habits

Proper nutrition and exercise go hand in hand. If you don’t fill your body up with appropriate nutrients from the right food, you won’t give your body the fuel it needs to finish the workout. Remember to eat or drink something light 10-20 minutes after training. You need to refuel your body and give it energy.

A great way to maximize your metabolism is to make an eating schedule and have your meals at the same time every day. This is also a great way to regulate your blood sugar and insulin levels. Plus, you’ll quickly level out your appetite, which will help you control unhealthy snacking easily.

3. Keep yourself motivated

One of the most common reasons people quit working out is that they struggle to stay motivated. Make sure to remind yourself why you started exercising in the first place and think about the results. Every workout you finish brings you that much closer to your goal.

Here are just some of the benefits of exercising to remind you why you should keep going:

• • By exercising regularly, you’ll control your weight either by preventing excess weight gain or maintaining your weight loss.

• • Exercise helps you eliminate risk factors associated with different diseases. For example, it lowers blood pressure, enables you to regulate blood sugar, boosts your immune system, and more.
  • When you exercise, you’ll feel better, and your mood will improve.
  • Exercising boosts your energy.
  • Working out can be very fun and even help you make new friends.

• • Regular exercise will help you improve the quality of your sleep.

Having this in mind, it’s no wonder why regular exercising is one of the ten commandments of health! Another thing that can help you stay motivated is to set goals. It will help you stay on track, especially at the beginning of the process. The good idea is to give yourself a little reward each time you complete a goal.

4. Make a schedule

You probably heard it already, but it doesn’t count until you write it down. Make sure to schedule your workouts the same you would schedule anything else you find crucial not to miss. You can use an app on your phone or your kitchen calendar, whatever works for you. The point is to pick a time and make sure you don’t cancel on yourself.

5. Don’t forget to stretch and find exercises you enjoy doing

When returning to your workout routine after a break, one of the most important things to do is to stretch properly. It will massively reduce the risk of injuries which can be much higher after a period of inactivity when muscles tend to be tighter than usual. Take 10-15 minutes before your workout to stretch; not only will you avoid injuries, but you’ll also maximize your performance.

One of the best ways to ensure you don’t quit exercising is to choose an activity you love. For instance, if you don’t like working out alone, consider joining a class. You will not only learn new skills, but you’ll also make new friends. If you don’t like going to the gym, consider running in the park or taking hikes in nature. It’s all about finding an activity you enjoy, and that makes you feel good.

The Bottom Line

We hope our tips have made returning to your workout routine after the holiday break easier. Remember that self-care is vital, so you should always try to exercise and eat healthily. Your health and well-being should be your priority, and you should remember that the next time you try to make an excuse for skipping a workout.