Wellness Watch: Staying In Shape Through The Holidays By Changing Your Point Of View

The holidays are here which means traveling, family, and lots of food and sweets.

But it doesn't have to get you off of your routine. Fitness Expert Michael Wittig joined News on 4 with tips for how you can enjoy a healthier holiday.

Tatum: There's a lot of food around this time of the year do we need to pass it up if we're trying to stay in shape?

Michael: One of the big things is to shift your point of view and not view December as a throwaway month. It could actually be a setup for a successful 2024. There's Christmas, there's going to be New Year's Eve, we're just talking about a couple of celebrations, like normal. I mean in any other month there's there's probably a birthday or a work party or an anniversary or Thanksgiving or something like that.

So, just view December as a setup and not a throwaway month if you shift your view like that, we're just talking about a couple of celebrations. And then the rest of the time try to be consistent and just have a balance.

Tatum: Sure everything in moderation. Another facet to the holidays is a lot of people travel. And again another thing to kind of get you out of that routine. If you are traveling and would still like to maybe get in a workout, what are some ways that you can stay on track while also traveling?

Michael: It's really hard when you're traveling, you're visiting family, or in a hotel maybe, or you just don't want to leave your family for several hours. To go work out, to travel to a gym to work out and travel back.

So, the key is just to move, go for a walk, go for a jog, go for a family walk or if it's too cold outside, let's say it's icy or whatever. Just Google 15-minute beginner home workout, no equipment, or 30-minute intermediate no equipment, and just do that wherever you're at just do something just move it doesn't have to be perfect or normal routine, but just get the heart rate up.

Tatum: We think a lot of times that movement has to be going to the gym, lifting heavy weights doing hard things and it doesn't have to be going for a walk can be just as effective.

Michael: Exactly. Just move your body or you're just talking to a couple of days you're going to be out of town just doing something to help burn calories and get your heart rate up just to be active and if you can get fresh air. Go outside and do it.