The Holiday Game Plan

Thanksgiving, Christmas, parties, travel, and every kid's school program known to man. Here's how to get through the holidays without starting over in January.

1. Set your minimum now.
   Not your best week. Not your worst week. Maybe it's three 20-minute workouts. Maybe it's a walk every day. Write it down. When December gets crazy, you're not deciding anything. You're just hitting the minimum.

2. Go early.
   The later in the day you plan to work out, the more chances life has to cancel it. Get it done before the day gets a vote.

3. Don't "save up" for the big meal.
   Skipping breakfast so you can go hard at dinner backfires every time. You show up starving and eat everything in sight. Eat a normal breakfast with some protein. Then enjoy dinner.

4. Walk after you eat.
   Ten to fifteen minutes after the big meal. Take your family, the dog, your weird uncle. It helps your digestion, gets you out of the house, and it's the easiest win of the whole season.

5. Never miss twice.
   Missing one day is life. Missing two in a row is how a new habit starts. Missed today? Fine. Tomorrow isn't optional.

That's it. You don't need a perfect December. You just need to not quit. Do these five things and you'll walk into January ahead of everybody else, not starting over with them.

Want more? Grab our free Holiday Guide. It has meal tips, quick workouts you can do anywhere, and how to handle the food pushers at Grandma's.