How to keep your health on track during the festive season (plus your anywhere, anytime workout)

Keeping your body active over the holidays is a valuable gift to yourself, says The Fit Pharmacist Holly Louise.

It can feel like a huge challenge to stay healthy over the holiday period, and while it’s really important to allow yourself time to relax and enjoy yourself, you don’t need to completely undo all of your hard work either.

Here are five simple tips to ensure you reach January feeling your healthiest self.

Plan ahead

If you know you are going to be indulging in a big lunch or dinner, ensure your other meals for the day are smaller and lower in calories.

Keep moving

Try to keep up with your normal training routine as much as possible. Alternatively, grab the family and go for some walks.

Set an alcohol budget

Try to stick to a limit, alternate your alcoholic drinks with water and drink slowly.

Stay hydrated

Thirst can easily be mistaken for hunger, so make sure you are sipping on water throughout the day, especially before and after Christmas parties.

Learn to say no

You don’t have to go to every single party. Avoid those where you know your health goals may be extremely hard to stick to.

Holly Louise’s Bodyweight Leg Burner Workout

Pistol squat: 12 reps each leg

Stand on one foot and extend the other leg. Descend into a squat position, while maintaining balance. Push your heel into the ground and return to a full standing position. Repeat and then switch legs.

Single leg glute bridge: 12 reps each leg

Lie on the ground with one leg bent and the other extended. Driving through the heel, extend your hips upward and raise your glutes off the ground. Extend as far as possible, pause and then return to the starting position. Repeat and then switch legs.

Sumo squat: 12 reps

Position your feet wider than shoulder width with your toes pointing out. Lower yourself into a deep squat position and then quickly to the starting position, driving your heels into the ground and squeezing your butt. Repeat.

Walking lunges: 12 reps each leg

Standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, step forward with one leg and flex the knees and descend until your rear knee nearly touches the ground. Drive through the heel of your front foot and then raise yourself back up. Repeat the lunge on the opposite leg.

Single leg deadlifts: 12 reps each leg

Stand on one leg with your knee slightly bent, and bend forward while extending your other leg behind you. Continue lowering your torso until you are parallel to the ground, then return to the upright position. Repeat and then switch legs.

Holly Louise, aka The Fit Pharmacist, is a registered pharmacist, certified personal trainer, online coach and ambassador for INC Sports. Find out more about Holly Louise on Instagram, Facebook and at The Fit Pharmacist.