G's Recipe for The Holiday Season

“The exercise for the holiday should be to unburden yourself from the guilt of eating and imbibing.”

Giuseppe Ciccolella, NSCA-CPT, CSCS, MES

How To Approach the Season

It’s that time of year again…The time when gyms get extraordinarily busy with members getting in a last-ditch workout to burn those calories before the big feast. The exact time every year, like clockwork, members approach me about what kind of damage the holiday feeding frenzy can elicit. Every year, for the last thirty years, I find myself giving the same answer: None. Studies show that a well-placed, high-calorie meal can help speed up your metabolism, not vice-versa. The caveat is you would have had to do your training homework the other 300+ days of the year. Gaining inches on your waistline is a cumulative process. It requires months of consistent calorie surplus.

Notwithstanding, holidays are not for creating unnecessary stress; they are a time to relax, reflect, and enjoy friends and family. It is a time to live those happy cliches we all grew up with: “Tis the season to be jolly,” “Eat, drink, and be merry,” and my favorite, “Here’s mud in your eye!”. The psychological benefits of being with friends and family far outweigh the physical effects of eating a good meal and drinking a few glasses of your favorite elixir. The exercise for the holiday should be to unburden yourself from the guilt of eating and imbibing.

Make It Your Time

Turn off your social media and reduce the noise coming from news anchors about how you can maintain your physique during the holidays. Instead, pay close attention to what really matters: making memories that will serve you above anything you can do in the gym.

Conversely, if you know you haven’t given your all this year to personal health, waiting till the end of the year to begin a training program will only add to your stress. There is no moment better than the present. There is no better feeling than knowing you took the first step to enriching your life and the lives of those around you by resolving and acting on a commitment to physical strength. I guarantee it will sweeten the holidays that much more.

An Early Gift – Relax!

This year, if you haven’t already done so, give yourself an early gift. Make your health a priority, and get the help you need to reach the physical goals you have always wanted for yourself. Fitness Incentive has gone above and beyond to train our staff in all matters relating to physical performance. Our training staff is there to help you achieve your health and fitness goals, whatever they may be. So, if you are feeling guilty about the upcoming holiday festivities, don’t! It serves no one. Instead, relax, be merry, and make memories.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Contact me today for a free consultation: gciccolella@gmail.com or call: 1-917-817-8373

About The Author

Giuseppe Ciccolella

Giuseppe Ciccolella, NSCA-CPT, CSCS, MES, is an NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and a certified Medical Exercise Specialist, as well as a USA-certified boxing coach. He has over 25 years of experience helping people of all ages and abilities achieve their wellness goals. He is the manager of the Personal Training Department at FI.