Staying fit during the holiday season may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be! The key is to have a plan ahead of time so you don’t find yourself headfirst in Halloween candy come October 31st. Instead, let’s dive into three hacks you can use this holiday season that will allow you to enjoy yourself, but also remain in control.

1. Plan ahead: Know the menu & bring a dish.
First up, make food to bring to the party that supports the lifestyle you’re trying to maintain! We all know how many parties happy November to January. If you’re trying to eat a balanced diet, it can be overwhelming when you think about all the different food choices that will be at parties. If you feel close enough to the host, definitely ask them what’s going to be served. Then offer to bring a dish! In some cases, you might not feel comfortable asking what’s on the menu. That’s okay, you can still offer to bring something! 9 times out of 10 the host will be happy to have the help with cooking. A lot of companies host parties at restaurants. In this case, do your research before you get there and look for options on the menu that align with your goals. That way, when you get there, you’re not tempted to order just anything. A lot of holiday parties are centered around meals and baking. Keep in mind that at the end of the day, the holidays are a time to celebrate with your friends and family. It’s about enjoying your time with them, not with the food. So don’t worry about your waistline if you want an extra cookie but don’t feel like you’re not in the holiday spirit if you decide to say no either.

2. Schedule your workouts in advance
If you want to maintain a workout schedule among all the holiday parties, gift shopping, and family functions you definitely need to schedule this in ahead of time. Be realistic with yourself when setting expectations. If you know there is no way you can get in six workouts a week shoot for four. Four is way better than zero and will keep your spirits high because you’re sticking with what you set out to do. If you’re someone whose day gets away from them, then get your workouts done early before work or before the kids are up. Take away the excuses from not doing it at all!

3. Find an accountability partner
The holidays can be a stressful enough time, don’t try to tackle these holiday goals alone! Recruit your friend, husband, or sister to work on these goals together! Set aside time before Thanksgiving, ideally before Halloween if you can make it work, and go over exactly what you want to accomplish over the holidays. Set times to get a workout in with this person X amount of times per week. If you can’t meet in person schedule weekly calls on your commutes to check in and see how everything is going. Having a support system and people you can check in with will make you stronger and help remind you why you’re doing what you’re doing when you’re tempted to skip your workout or have that extra glass of wine you don’t really want.

Planning ahead when it comes to meals and workouts are the first two keys to success this holiday season. Find yourself an accountability partner to meal prep and workout with and come January 1st you won’t need to put “get back into shape” on your resolutions. We hope these hacks help you feel more prepared for the hectic holiday season . If you have questions on anything, don’t hesitate to reach out! We’re always here for our herd. Happy holi-herd-days!