By: Seena Khonsari, MS, CSCS
Why Do We Fall?
We have discussed fitness being a process, and as such there are times when we are naturally less-inclined to practice moderation, consistency, and self-control. The Holiday season appears to be just that.
In all aspects of life and culture, not just fitness.
There is no reason to miss out on sharing thanks with family, parties with friends and co-workers, more shared table with family, and then the ‘big bang’ – ringing in the New Year.
In Christopher Nolan’s movie, Batman Begins, there is a flashback scene showing Bruce Wayne as a boy chasing his childhood friend through the yard, where he accidentally falls and injures himself. Bruce’s father swoops in to help and as he carries his son inside, he says the following:
“Why do we fall, Bruce?”
“So that we can learn to pick ourselves up.”
Consider all previous attempts at the holiday season ‘the fall’. Here is how we can learn to pick ourselves up…
- Participate in everything. But limit that to the actual time you have planned to participate. Do not let that first bite serve as a disinhibition reflex which sees you eating pumpkin pie two mornings after Thanksgiving has come and gone.
- The time when you are busy and about your daily life is time to capitalize on, because it still makes up the majority of the Holiday season. Practice the right habits and return to baseline if you stray.
- Decide if active rest or continued training are a possibility, then execute. There are no missed workouts. You either plan to front-load workouts before you leave (town), or resume workouts when you return. Everything in the middle is planned active rest.
- Be the example. Your family and friends look up to you because of the time that you make for your fitness. Be an example of someone who can have their cake and eat it too.
