We have reached the most "sinful" time of the year: Christmas and New Year. The weeks when the table looks like a medieval banquet and training is replaced by a sea of creative excuses. It is also the pandemic moment on social media, which is infested with recipes for "protein French toast" and "sugar-free king cake". Apparently, we need to transform everything that is tasty into a sadder version, even if it only happens once a year.
Just as one week won’t ruin your results, it won’t save them either. The scales weigh more heavily on the 11 months before and what you’re going to do afterwards. Fitness isn’t an all-or-nothing process, and trying to live Christmas as if you were preparing for a bodybuilding competition makes no sense at all. Trying to turn one-off moments into a macro competition will only make you hate fitness and Christmas as much.
What Really Matters?
These weeks don’t have to be about extremes. Neither unbridled excess nor absolute deprivation. It’s possible to find a balance, but without overindulging. Here are some ideas to help you navigate this season:
- Enjoy the Moments: Christmas is about sharing, family and memories (and yes, French toast too). This is not the time to obsessively count calories.
- Prioritize Consistency Over Perfection: You don’t have to do every workout on the plan or avoid all sweets. Do your best, but remember: it’s what you do most of the time that counts, not what you do on special days.
- Have Fun in Moderation: You know that expression "one day is not days"? It's true, but it applies to one or two days, not three whole weeks of Christmas. Forget about "lost by 100, lost by 1000".
- Return to Routine Without Drama: When the festivities are over, get back to your workouts and healthy eating. No extreme compensations, no crazy fasts, no punishments. Just get back to normal.
Fitness is a long-term story, which means that these few weeks won’t define your results. If you’ve been consistent, a few days of enjoying Christmas won’t erase everything you’ve built. And if you’re just starting out, a few French toasts won’t stop you from progressing. The only thing that can ruin your path is the “all or nothing” approach.
Rita Gomes
Personal Trainer BMS