Happy Thanksgiving! I appreciate every member of our community on many levels. Thank you for being a part of our quest for ultimate health, fitness, performance, and longevity. I value the opportunity to engage with you and to strategize and problem-solve. Thanks for challenging me to learn, grow, and share. And most of all, I’m grateful for you being in my world because you’re all great humans who make all of this TLA goodness worthwhile.
As the title suggests, I’ve got a few thoughts to offer up for this holiday season. Not sure if these are random musings or bits of advice. Probably a little of both. Doesn’t matter.
Gratitude should be ever-present, not just this week. But in keeping with historical tradition, this is a time to recognize the blessings of life, and to reflect back on most of the calendar year. Enjoy the bounty of the harvest, both literally and figuratively. You hear a lot about gratitude these days. How it makes you feel good, lowers your blood pressure and glucose levels, and improves your sleep. It’s tempting to get all tactical and strategic about being grateful to get those bennies. But that’s almost a selfish perspective and that’s not how we roll. Just let it happen. Steep yourself in the richness of the season’s tea…so to speak.
Holiday travel can present some unique circumstances, or perhaps challenges. Busy roads, crowded airports, hectic schedules. A perfect time to take a few deep breaths, smile at someone else and to yourself, and view the process as temporary. After all, we are all in this together.
Feasting is a part of the celebration. This is the time to dine richly and share deep nourishment. That doesn’t have to be gluttony but it should be an occasion to enjoy flavor, satiety, and fellowship in a meaningful way. There is a very broad middle between being extremely strict with diet and going “whole hawg” and that’s where you’ll find your sweet spot. Don’t stress about every calorie but resist the temptation to gorge yourself into agony.
Creative training is one of the keys to consistency. We’ve been talking a lot about how consistency beats out every other variable when it comes to long-term outcomes. That’s exactly what we’re going after as Lifetime Athletes. This might be one of those weeks when you can’t get to the gym as much, or your usual routines are shaken up a bit. No worries, just pack a band or tubing, and look for walking and calisthenic options. Seize opportunities as they present themselves and try to schedule one or two purposeful sessions over the long weekend. This works great when you involve family and friends. Go for that long walk but throw in a few bonus lunges and pushups. It’s all good.
Seasonal adjustments in sleep and training patterns are perhaps indicated more at this time of year than any other. From Thanksgiving to the New Year, in the Northern Hemisphere, we experience the shortest daylight hours and often some of the coldest temperatures of the year. These forces of nature impact our circadian rhythms and hormonal regulation significantly. You’ll feel a powerful natural drive to sleep more and make your workouts briefer in duration. Go with that. Your body will undergo restoration processes which will help you to rise to greater health and performance heights when spring comes around. If you want more info about how seasonality imparts an annual ebb and flow to diet, training and activity, and sleep…just search on Seasonality (in the App or on the website).
Ultimately, living a life of joy and helping others to do the same is the name of our game. I wish you the best this week and every other time of year. Have a safe and very happy holiday season.