Party season—and all the feasts and cocktails that come with it—can be a recipe for overindulgence. So what should you do if the waistline starts to look and feel as plump as that holiday roast? We asked local personal trainers how you can adjust that fitness routine to keep your goals in shape this holiday.
POLICE WHAT YOU EAT Fitness begins in the kitchen, says Rore Middleton of Evolution in Fairfield. When her clients have seasonal slipups, it’s often about sloppy eating. She suggests shelving those bad habits for two weeks. “It might be as simple as going without wine at dinner on weeknights,” says Middleton. “We all have our trigger foods. Avoid them for fourteen days, and you should see some results.”
COMMIT TO INTENSITY If holiday buffets have knocked your normal routine off course, it’s possible to get things back in high gear with some simple tweaks, says Curcio Training founder Bill Curcio. His tip: Try “micro bursts” of intense activity. Commit to twenty minutes and go full out. Incorporate CrossFit-style moves for maximum impact.
CHANGE YOUR ROUTINE “A jump rope is a quick way to add intensity to a workout,” says Suzanne Palazzo of Upper Deck Fitness in Stamford. If that’s too advanced, try a long sequence of jumping jacks. “You want to be doing these so hard you can’t talk. Then, you go at it for another minute.”