Preset for success

RamonasTrainer.storyYour preset game plan begins this week

The holiday season is upon us and many people can put on as much as 5 to 7 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.

You can think of combating this in three ways.

First, you could just go with the flow and expect to put this weight on, and come January 1 make a resolution to take it off — and then-some.

Second option, if you’re happy with your current weight, lose a few pounds in preparation for putting it back on once the festivities begin. Lastly, you could preset for success.

Preset for success means doing a combination of both and still enjoying your festivities.

Your preset game plan starts the first week of October. Here you will begin your regimen of bumping up your cardio-respiratory exercise.

Cardio is any activity that gets your heart rate up.

I want you to get moving every other day.

If you’re not exercising now, start small and gain momentum as you go. Walk before you jog, jog before you run, and run before you run up hills.

There’s really no science behind it — just get MOVING. Do this for three weeks, and each week increase your time or intensity.

It’s almost one month out from turkey day. The next preset for success is going to be adjusting your macro-nutrient profile (carbs, fat and protein), moreover your calorie intake. I suggest checking out my DotFit app and start logging your foods today.

Another method is to start cutting out some of your unnecessary starches later in the day. Starches are foods like breads, pastas, cereals and rice. If you replace these with green leafy vegetables, you will cut significant calories.

Finally, make room for more calories and food the week of the festivities by exercising even more, doing a healthy vegetable juice cleanse or even a day of fasting if you have experience with that sort of program. If you exercise an extra 30 minutes three more days per week you can make strides toward boosting your metabolism and presetting for success.

The final job I have for you is — ENJOY your friends, family and food. We are meant to eat to live and, in fact, many times need that extra boost in calories to set our metabolism afire and burn even more. Don’t get carried away, but enjoy things in moderation and don’t gorge yourself.

Happy holidays and even happier health when you PRESET FOR SUCCESS.

Good luck and check out my website www.ramonastrainer.com for articles, workouts, videos and how you can get started on your path to you, only better.

Peter San Nicolas owns Ramona Fitness Center.