5 Tips to Maintain Your Health During the Holidays Presented by Orange Theory Fitness Newtown

With Halloween candy still lingering around the house, Thanksgiving pies stacked in the refrigerator, and the sweet aroma of fresh baked holiday cookies in the air, 'tis the season for temptation!

Unfortunately, these treats can play tricks with your fitness goals. In fact, the average American gains 10 pounds between Halloween and New Year's Day.

How can you avoid temptation and stay on track? Here are 5 crucial tips to maintain your health during the holidays:

Stay Committed – Recommit to the “why” you want to reach or maintain your fitness goals. Write down your fitness goals and keep those goals visible as a constant reminder to stay on track.

Portion Control – Any food consumed in moderation can be worked into your daily meal plan. Halloween and the holiday season are known for candy bowls overflowing with mounds of candy. As long as you can avoid eating all the candy because you are afraid it will expire in a week, a piece or two will not negate your fitness efforts.

Choose Wisely – Fill your candy bowl with fun-sized treats (smaller versions of the original treat), low calorie treats, and alternatives to candy. If you fill the candy bowl with candy, purchase your least favorite candy as you will most likely resist the give one piece but consume two pieces syndrome.

Accept Wandering – No one is perfect and if you happen to wander and binge on sweets during this holiday season, don't let it detract you from your plan and get back on track. A day or two of binging won't eliminate all of your fitness improvements but a few weeks will.

Hydrate – A holiday martini can pack just as many calories as candy! You'll eat and drink less calories if you keep yourself well hydrated with water throughout the day. Try drinking one cup of water in between every alcoholic beverage.

This Fitness Tip is presented by Orange Theory Fitness of Newtown, one of Newton's newest gyms featuring energizing group personal training sessions, praised by the New York Times as a “plateau-busting workout.” Orange Theory helps customers achieve the best shape of their lives through 60-minute workouts broken into intervals of cardiovascular and strength training. A 5-zone heart monitor helps participants burn an average of 900 calories per 60-minute training session and achieve EPOC (excess post-exercise oxygen consumption), which keeps their bodies burning more calories even after the work out is over!