Are you feeling the weight of the Holidays? And no we don’t mean your inlaws. Did you know that the average American gains approximately 5 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Years? Well, you don’t have to be average anymore. BirminghamMommy is here to help you with a few tips for getting those exercises in and trimming the fat this holiday season.

Since we here at BirminghamMommy tend to throw caution to the wind during the holidays (Hey! Do as we say not as we do.) We decided to seek a little guidance from a fitness expert.

Mary Zarate, who runs Birmingham Bootcamp says, we should be aware of the temptations and recommends planning ahead if you know you will be attending a party with some yummy goodness. Try to eat healthy that day, “get plenty of fresh fruits and veggies, fiber and balanced protein,” then go for the fruit and veggie trays first, “all holiday parties have healthy options,” filling up on those healthy foods will make you less likely to over indulge in the good tasting, but bad for your thighs type foods.

When it comes to alcohol, Mary suggests “making a spritzer with your wine, choose a low calorie beer, and always drink a glass of water in between each drink.” We think this is good advice for any party or night out. Let’s face it, the kids couldn’t care less how much you had to drink the night before, they are still going to want their breakfast before noon.

What about exercise you ask? Well, we inquired about that too because we just knew how anxious you would be to find out how to take a workout program on the road with you! Mary stresses the importance of keeping an exercise schedule, even if it is just a quick walk. Aim for 3-4 times a week, for 60 minutes, and remember that anything is better nothing. When we pressured her to recommend just one exercise, Mary said, Jump rope. “Try for 1 minute then rest, then repeat as many times as you can! Go for longer if you’re conditioned. Jumping rope is a great calorie burner, good for balance, coordination, core and also detoxifies the body.” The best thing is that it’s cheap, you don’t have to leave your house and it packs up nicely for any holiday traveling you might be doing.

Also remember if you think you are going to be sneaky and just not eat all day in an attempt to “save calories” you aren’t doing yourself any good, in fact it works in reverse, causing your metabolism to slow and your body to store everything wondering when you plan to feed it again. “If what you eat is bad, what you store is bad.” Her best advice for keeping off the weight this holiday? “Eat as natural as possible (whole grains, fruits, veggies, lean proteins) so when you splurge, your body will not hold on to it. If you eat healthy you may not have such an urge to splurge.”

Now you are armed and ready for whatever White Elephant party, Office shin dig, or family gathering that will be thrown your way over the next few weeks. Don’t worry if you slip up, New Years Resolutions are just around the corner….. We kid, we kid. (kind of.)

Mary Zarate has been a trainer for more than 10 years and is certified through NSCA and NESTA. She is a certified athletic trainer with a Masters in athletic training and has been teaching Birmingham Adventure Bootcamp, an outdoor, year round fitness program for more than 4 years. To learn more about the BootCamp Program visit their site.  Tell them BirminghamMommy sent you!