Look around and it is clear what time of year it is! The cobwebs,plastic skeletons and orange everywhere you look indicate that it's time forHalloween. This weekend, cute little kids in their little costumes will be ringingyour door bells and asking for candy. Not too far after this, we will seeturkeys, pilgrims and Indians all over the place. Not to mention the jolly guyin the red suit that comes way too soon. I don't have to explain in too muchdetail that three major holidays back to back for most people equals a largernumber registering on the bathroom scale. Let's face it, it is hard not to wantto enjoy ourselves during the holiday months with all of our friends, partiesand great food everywhere we look.
As fitness professionals, it is usually our knee-jerkreaction to say "Don't do it!" What I have come to learn is, people will dowhat they usually want to do. So, to combat the overzealous desire to splurgeand still allow your clients to enjoy the bounties of the holiday I offer threealternative thought processes we can deliver to our clients and hopefully add alittle value.
Talkto your clients about portion control. It is better for them to enjoy a smallerportion of the delicious deserts than to dive in head first and eat their wayout. I believe this is the reason many people fail to find success in dieting. Theyburn out from being so strict and do not allow themselves to have a reward foreating well. By the time they hit frustration, they find themselves ankle deepin chocolate pie!
Discusshealthy alternative dishes and or an alternative recipe for the holiday. Sometimesa dish can be prepared with different ingredients, such as using a naturalsweetener, to help make the dish a little easier on the scale. Have themconsider a desert made with fruit or granola. For Halloween, maybe evenconsider a different option than candy to give out to children trick ortreating so we do not encourage the obesity problem that haunts the U.S.
Encouragea little extra effort in their workouts. Maybe adding a little time on to theircardio regimen or adding a cardio pump class in advance of the holidays willhelp combat the additional calories they will be bringing in. This is definitelythe "plan ahead" tactic to what we know is coming. It only makes sense; we knowthe additional calories are coming, so let's combat what we can with a littleextra effort.
Whatever creative things you can come up with to allow yourclient to enjoy the holiday and not blow their progress out of the water is thegoal. The good news is, as long as people continue love the holiday foods, wewill have job security! Wish your clients a wonderful holiday, encourage themto enjoy the festivities and educate them on how to be smart about it! HappyHolidays readers! Train hard and enjoy the season yourselves!
Mike McDaniel is an authority of leadership, goal-setting disciplines, sales strategies and corporate physical fitness. He has been a professional trainer for over 18 years and owned two health clubs, employing over 75 personal trainers. Mike can be booked for speaking engagements, sales training or consultant at www.askthewhyguy.com.
