Five Ways to Stay on Track During the Holidays | Friday Five

We're past Halloween now, so on comes the landslide of Christmas from every angle. Now, I personally keep all the Christmas until the day after Thanksgiving, which isn't easy because I love Christmas time. This week's Friday Five linkup takes a look at the upcoming holiday times. This week's topic is

Five Ways to Stay on Track During the Holidays

1. Run a Holiday Race (or several)

The first and easiest way to stay on track is to sign up for a race, or in my case several. When you sign up for a race, that's a guaranteed run. With that, hopefully you'll train, which keeps you active around the race. I personally signed up for the BRATS Holiday 5K Series. It's a set of 5K races: one on Thanksgiving day, one in December and one in January. This will help keep me going into the new year.  Each race includes a tech shirt and if you run all three: bling! So why not check out the post for registration information and join me. The best part, if you sign up for a Turkey Trot, you'll run and earn another plate at dinner, without the side of guilt.

2. Get an App

There a plenty of apps out there that you can use to help keep yourself on track. They can provide you check points, tracking, even rewards. I am a member of WeightWatchers, so I use their app to track all that I eat and drink, as well as activity points earned. A popular free tracker is MyFitnessPal. I haven't personally used it, so I can't vouch for it, but it's very popular so it must be doing something right. Before my Force was recalled, I used the FitBit app to track water intake with my steps and it allowed for food tracking as well. It also doesn't stop with tracking your food. I also recently started using HabitRPG, which provides gamification for good habits. I actually am working on a write up on the app, so be on the watch for that.

So get yourself an app, preferably one with notifications to annoy you.

3. Commit to a Challenge

Along side of an app, you can commit yourself to a challenge (which may, in turn, have an app). There are numerous 30 day challenges you can choose to partake in. Or, you could choose to join a DietBet. In DietBet, you put some money down to join a challenge to lose a certain percent of body weight, such as 4% in 4 weeks. If you don't make the goal, you lose your money. If you make your goal, you get your money back, as well as a portion of the money lost by anyone missing the goal. Pretty good deal, if I do say so myself.

4. Daily Review of Mantras

This is something I use day-to-day to keep myself on track. Every morning, I review two things: a set of mantras and a list of why I'm losing weight. Having those reminders help to build my confidence, keep me on task and give me some guidance. All of those things are important to have when trying to keep on track.

5. Ask for Gear for Christmas

Who doesn't love new gear? The holidays is the perfect time to get some new gear. The best part, when you get that new gear, then you'll want to use that new gear. When you use that new gear, then you're active. When you're active, then you stay on track. Q.E.D.

Linking Up

Check here for some links out to others sharing, staring with our three lovely hosts: Courtney, Cynthia and Mar. Check their posts (Eat Pray Run DC, You Signed Up for What?! and Mar on the Run to see the full set of links). I will add some others, usually randomly, as I read them to share the love. Go visit and keep reading!


Our hosts:

Mar on the Run

Eat Pray Run, DC

You Signed Up for What?!

Some other good reads, pulled from the link up:

Pam & Christine @ We Run Disney

Heather Runs Thirteen Point One

April @ Run the Great Wide Somewhere