The holidays are one of the most exciting times of the year. After all it is the best time for a nice family reunion combined with some delicious dinner. Also, much has been said about how to maintain your diet and fitness levels during this festive period. However, not everyone is able to resist the elaborate dinners filled with items like mashed potatoes and the delicious gravy. And while one meal may not cause too much of a negative impact on the weight management process, it is important to take the right steps right after Christmas Day. In the article, we will provide a framework with the necessary steps about how to get back to your fitness routine.

1. Discard the Leftovers
The first steps towards getting back to your normal diet plan and fitness program are to get rid of the leftovers. On that note, it is important to emphasize that the typical holiday dinners can contain a high amount of fats and other negative elements that can disrupt the process of losing fat. Also, some part of these dinners many contain several complex compounds that can have a negative effect on the overall health.
This is especially important as desserts such as the pecan pie, pumpkin pie, etc., contain high levels of saturated fats and added processed sugars. By getting rid of the leftovers (or giving them to guests to take home) you will be able to start the process of getting back in track with your fitness goals.

2. Get Your Diet Right
The second notable advice is to get back to your diet plan. The entire holiday season can implicate severe changes which may result in less healthy meals. As we have stated before, having a proper diet plan is one of the main prerequisites in the process of building muscle. In other words, you need to consume the right foods. That is why it is imperative to turn back to your diet plan in order to provide the body with the essential nutrients. This can also be beneficial as it can decrease the potential negative impact of certain holiday foods. In the same time, it can stop the process of gaining weight which can result in stamina and strength improvement.
Another idea is to implement a diet plan that will be based on protein, some vegetables and a starchy side. This can be beneficial as this combination can generate a broad spectrum of essential nutrients that will work on neutralizing the processed sugars from the various holiday deserts. Also, many people feel tired after the festive period and this meal plan can fuel energy that is essential for the normal functioning of the body.

3. Stay Hydrated
This may sound simple, but the water can provide numerous benefits in the post-holiday period. One notable advantage is that it can help in the process of getting your body back to normal. To be more specific, the more water that you consume, the faster you will flush all the processed sugars and other negative elements from the digestive system. Also, this simple concept can be helpful especially in the case of excessive alcohol consummation during holiday festivities. The water can reenergize the body that might be suffering from dehydration. In the same time, an increased water consummation can revitalize the muscle tissues that might be in a state of decline due to the lack of exercise and proper hydration.

4. Get back to the Gym
This element is pretty obvious. It is very important after the celebrations and excessive food consummation to get back in the gym. Being active is the best way to burn out the calories from Christmas dinner. In the same time, the exercise can be the catalyst for preventing a weight gain combined with maintaining a lean body physique. Also, an alternative idea can be taking part in different sports such as football, basketball, tennis etc. Through these activities, you can put your muscle mass in action as the numerous and sharp movements of these sports will re-enable to muscles to withstand the training demands of the workout sessions in the weight room.

5. Rest 
Having enough rest can galvanize the process of building a lean muscle mass. After the holiday season, your body may be exhausted and tired. The best response to this state is to have a good rest period. For example, having enough sleep and rest can provide numerous health benefits. One of these is that sleep and rest can help flush out toxins from your body and brain. Combined with this is that the body tends to heal and energize during the rest periods which will be beneficial in getting your fitness levels back to normal. It also can be good for the mental state as it can energize the brain thus creating a good level of determination to reach your fitness goals.
All in all, the holiday season can be challenging in the process of maintaining a lean muscle physique. This, however, is not an excuse and the overall recommendation is to keep your focus on your fitness goals during this festive period. But, at the end of the day, losing your focus for a bit is not the end of the world. And while the damage is done, there are certain steps that you can take in order to get back to your fitness routine on the fast track. By following these simple tips, you can get successfully get back in shape.

Chris Hazen | @thechrishazen | thechrishazen@gmail.com