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Fight the Fluff: How to Stay Fit Over the Holidays

Fight the Fluff: How to Stay Fit Over the Holidays

You worked all summer to achieve your health goals. Maybe it was to shed a few pounds, run faster, swim longer, or feel better overall! Whatever your fitness goals, it’s totally possible to stay on track with them as the holidays approach.

Keep your commitments to yourself with these tips to stay healthy during the holidays.

How to Avoid Unwanted Weight Gain Over the Holidays

It’s no secret that holiday foods aren’t always the most nutritious. And while you can certainly indulge in your favorites to celebrate the season, your food choices and activity levels can directly affect your weight and overall health (not to mention, how you feel). Gaining weight over the holidays doesn’t have to be inevitable, though! Get motivated with these simple ways to stay healthy over the holidays.

1. Be picky with your portions.

When you’re faced with green bean casseroles and rolls galore, it can be tempting to pile your plate high with comfort food. Instead, try sampling everything in smaller portions. Large servings can mean you’re consuming extra calories. Which means that unless you’re also stepping up your physical activity, holiday weight gain can quickly follow.

Try spooning out smaller portions, or use a smaller plate to help you stay aware of your serving sizes. If you’re not sure where to start, check out this handy portion size guide for common food groups.

2. Hold out for whole foods.

For many of us, our food choices and habits change drastically during the holiday season. With so many scrumptious holiday foods close at hand, it’s easy to reach for options we wouldn’t eat during the rest of the year. But, what if our food choices only changed a little this year? Sure, you can still indulge in your favorite foods to celebrate, but keep incorporating whole foods, too. Think vegetables, fruits, and foods that are high in protein and dietary fiber (both of these can help you stay full and maintain a stable weight).

3. Amp up your physical activity.

Summer weather makes it easy to get moving, but cooler months can lead us to spend more time inside. Not to mention, many holiday traditions — like movie marathons or gift exchanges — are sedentary. If you’ve been less active in recent days, now is a great time to ease back into a workout routine. You can even opt for more active holiday traditions, like family ice skating or a walk-through holiday light show.

4. Look for an accountability partner.

Let’s be real: staying healthy can be a challenge any time of the year, and the holidays only make it harder. Why not recruit a friend to help you stay accountable to your health and wellness goals this holiday season? An accountability partner can help you do anything — from converting your spare room into a gym to periodically checking in on your healthy food habits via text.

Need more specific guidelines or medical advice? Look to a registered dietitian for help with your specific weight loss or weight management goals.

Staying Healthy Over the Holidays

Here’s the thing: staying healthy throughout the holiday season means so much more than simply avoiding weight gain. Your mental health matters, too! Keep your body AND mind in a good place when you commit to managing your stress this holiday season.

Excess stress can lead to overeating and unwanted weight gain, but it can also negatively affect your sleep quality and even your immune system. Fortunately, physical activity is a fantastic way to manage your stress, both now and for the rest of the year. Whether you squeeze in a quick couch workout or take a break to focus on deep breaths while you shuttle between holiday parties, keeping your stress levels in check can go a long way in your overall health.

How to Stay Fit Over the Holidays with Help from Rent-A-Center

Whether you’re looking to lose weight, start a winter-friendly exercise routine, or step up your party game, keep your holiday cheer — and your health goals — intact with help from Rent-A-Center. Find new living room furniture so you can host this year’s family gathering, or get the exercise equipment you need to stay fit over the holidays. Your local Rent-A-Center has it all! Shop online today and enjoy fast, free delivery tomorrow.

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The good things in life don’t have to be out of reach. Rent-A-Center is here to make the things you want and need accessible, and Front & Center is your resource for living well on a budget.

Each week, we’ll bring you tips and tricks for infusing simplicity, style—even a little fun—into every aspect of your life and home. From decorating advice to money-saving strategies to opportunities to share with others like you, we’ll give you ideas that inspire. Live well, friends. And send your submissions, suggestions and questions for the blog to blog@rentacenter.com. For all customer service inquiries, please contact our Solution Center team at 1-800-422-8186.