How the Holidays Affect Your Fitness (and How to Not Lose the Plot)
The holidays donโt wreck your fitnessโthe pressure to train like nothing changed does. Sleep gets shorter. Stress goes up. Schedules get weird. Food and alcohol change. Recovery takes a hit. When that happens, your body adapts exactly as it should. Feeling flatter, heavier, or less motivated isnโt failureโitโs physiology. Hereโs the mistake most people make: They try to maximize when the season calls for maintenance. Holiday training should be about: โข Maintaining strength โข Keeping joints and tissues happy โข Supporting mental health โข Preserving the identity of โIโm someone who movesโ Not chasing PRs. Train smarter right now :โข Shorter sessions, fewer sets โข Keep intensity, reduce volume โข Warm up more than usual โข Walk moreโmovement counts โข 2โ4 sessions per week is plenty Fitness isnโt fragile. You donโt lose progress in a few imperfect weeks. What does derail people is guilt, all-or-nothing thinking, and trying to โburn offโ the holidays. Train to support your lifeโnot escape itโand January becomes a ramp, not a restart. *Question for the group: Whatโs the hardest part of staying active during the holidaysโtime, energy, motivation, or expectations?