Here in the UK Christmas means two things:

– Consume too much food and alcohol
– Move very little

I find that very hard, not so much the first one but definitely the second.

Going out for a walk on Boxing Day just isn’t enough for me.  Yes, I’ll go for the walk but only after I’ve gone for a run or been to the gym.

It’s hard though when your forced to be with your friends and family, it can feel like because it’s christmas you should be with them 24 hours a day.

If I’m honest I can’t take that – it drives me mad.

My wife and her family think I have ADHD.

I don’t

I just like doing things and I like training.

It’s like the training is some kind of medicine for me – it keeps me sane.

So why should I stop just because it’s Christmas?

Well, I shouldn’t!

Don’t get me wrong, I like being with my family but I will make time to do a little training most days, even if everyone else is sat in the house slowly going insane.

The key is getting something done which is quick.

Something like intervals or hill sprints.

Maybe 10 x 1min reps or find a hill and sprint up it flat out ten times using the walk down as recovery.

A short hill can be surprisingly tough if you go flat out.

For me keeping some training in my day, keeps me feeling healthy – physically and mentally.

The irony to some extent with Christmas is that moving and eating well is good for you.

For some reason though at this time of year we are supposed to do things which are bad for us.

I’ll have fun this year especially on Christmas Day (when I won’t train) but I’m not going to let the holiday season derail my health and fitness.

Even if it can sometimes feel like that’s what I am supposed to do.

I hope you’ve had a great Christmas so far!

Jamie “Stay Healthy” Leighton

p.s – News of my book will be with you very shortly – just in case you do lose it this Christmas, this book will get you leaner and healthy in no time!