Is it 'fun', or is it harmful?
To be clear, I absolutely took part in and promoted these type of workouts at the beginning of my career as a coach.
It was heavily modeled at just about every gym I worked at (and anywhere you get your fitness).
And I understand the intention- making fitness fun 🤩.
Yet the impact of these workouts- associating fitness as a means to ‘make up for’ food- is more harmful than the workouts are entertaining.
The diet industry LOVES this time of year, and they have a script the follow…
It’s starts off by warning ⚠️ you of the dangers of the holiday season, sells you on meal and workout plans to keep you ‘in check’, and then REALLY dials in come January.
That’s when they capitalize off off of making you feel shitty for enjoying your grandmother’s pie or taking some time off your workouts.
SOME THINGS TO REMEMBER AS YOU SEE SHIT LIKE THIS 👆🏼IN YOUR FEED. Candy references soon to replaced by turkey, mashed potatoes, cobblers, etc...
🔸FITNESS IS A LONG GAME. Time off from exercise, eating differently, resting more- it’s a part of life that happens in ALL seasons. Don’t let the holiday hype make you think any different.
🔸RESTRICTION IS A MAJOR CAUSE OF BINGE EATING. Following a diet that leaves you hungry and/or unsatisfied is a quick way to eat to uncomfortableness later.
🔸IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO BUILD STRENGTH —AND YOUR PROGRESS WON’T BE LOST CUZ YOU TOOK SOME TIME OFF.
Nuff said there.
🔸DON’T LET YOUR ENJOYMENT OF MOVEMENT BE REPLACED WITH GUILT. Ignore the messages that tell that your food choices need to be burned off or made up for or avoided entirely. This sets you up to hate exercise and use it as a form of punishment.
I don’t want that for you.
Let’s do the holiday season differently this year-by actually enjoying it
Author
Gretchen
Coach
Growing up I was a half-hearted athlete who struggled with my relationship with both food and exercise. I smoked for over a decade and spent much of my youth either binging or not eating at all. But after breaking my leg in a car accident, months of physical rehab and years of psychological counseling lead me to a renewed appreciation for my health and my ability to just move-something I'll never take for granted again. I overcame a lot and have spent much of my life sharing what I've learned. I became a NASM personal trainer over 16 years ago. The type of clients I've trained and my own personal interests lead me to attain many other certifications. These include Sports Specific and Orthopedic exercise specializations, Pre and Post Natal exercise, MMA conditioning, and ACE Mind Body Specializations. I've taken 2 TRX qualifying courses in general and functional fitness. I am Kettlebell certified through both NETA and Kettlebell Kings, also completing an independent study facilitated by Steve Cotter, founder of the International Kettlebell and Fitness Federation. I am also a certified Animal Flow Instructor. In the fall of 2021, I became a Certified Intuitive Eating Facilitator, as IE was integral to my own ability to divest from diet culture. I think this was the missing piece to be able to put together a holistic, meaningful training program for all my clients.
