How to Maintain Health During the Holidays: An Athlete’s Guide by Guest Post JVA December 21, 2021 | 3 minutes, 1 second read AlexandraKa via Shutterstock At this time every year, athletes add another important aspect to their lives that can impact their training and performance: celebrating the holidays. With more time dedicated to seeing friends and family, this can be a healthful and restorative period for athletes—a chance to mentally recharge. The holidays, however, bring several temptations that when left unchecked can lead to negative effects on training that outweigh the positive energy during this month. Let’s look into how people tend to overindulge and what strategies you can exercise to maintain fitness through the month. Respect your hard work and discipline during the rest of the year by following these tips! Indulge in moderation. One lavish meal won’t dig you into a hole but a season of calorie-dense meals will, so try to exercise greater vigilance throughout the month. It is unlikely that the one to two pounds the average American gains during the holidays (and doesn’t lose, according to a The New England Journal of Medicine study) comes from a specific meal you had. The hidden calories are in all the little treats throughout the season. Included in that category are peppermint mochas, the candy bowl that sits on the table for the month of December, the endless supply of holiday cookies, and many more parties that involve festive drinks. table { border: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; } table tr { background-color: #ffffff; border: 0px; } table th, table td { border: 0px; } @media screen and (max-width: 600px) { table { border: 0px; } table thead { border: none; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; margin: -1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0; position: absolute; width: 0px; } table tr { display: block; } table td { display: block; } table td::before { /* * aria-label has no advantage, it won't be read inside a table content: attr(aria-label); */ content: attr(data-label); float: left; } table td:last-child { } } About JVA The JVA Vision is to be the premier organization to serve all the needs of the Junior Volleyball Community. JVA is the ONLY national association that is 100% focused on junior volleyball and the needs of junior clubs. JVA is the leader in Junior Volleyball Programs and is a voice for junior clubs – your programs and your needs. JVA's number one goal is to help your club programs and events thrive. JVA unites club directors, coaches and educators to improve the junior volleyball experience. More Healthy at Home Articles At Home Hockey Workouts – No Equipment Needed Training with no equipment as a hockey player puts you in a unique position Sports Organizations Working Hard to Stay Connected Virtually to Its Athletes With team sports on hold, organizations everywhere are trying to find ways to go virtual and stay connected with their teams A Routine to Help You Stay Healthy (and Sane) While You’re Stuck at Home Maintaining healthy routines — whether that’s a workout, a healthy meal or making time to relax and reset — can provide a sense of control during a time of uncertainty. Coronavirus Fitness: As Gyms Close, Here’s How to Stay Healthy at Home The Best Outdoor Activities to Do With Your Kids This Summer Though some parks and recreational areas remain closed due to the global pandemic, you can still switch your indoor activities into outdoor experiences. Advice for athletes during coronavirus cancelations You’re still a teammate. You’re still involved with your sport Ten Sports-Themed Books for Young Adults 5 Tips to Keep Your Hockey Athlete Motivated These 5 tips will help your kids to stay motivated and prepare to return to the sport they love so much Basketball Curriculum Continuing to Evolve The Quarantine Skills Academy is allowing athletes to take control of their own progression. Youth Sports: How to Deal with Anxiety Around Return to Play TrueSport Expert Kevin Chapman, PhD, is here to help parents navigate their young athletes return to youth sports after COVID-19. Train Your Upper Body With an At-Home Basketball Workout Even without access to a gym, you can improve your lower-body and upper-body strength The Ultimate Parents’ Guide to Education and Activity Resources Many more online portals and entertaining apps have been with us all along but never seemed more relevant. To give parents a sense of what’s out there, we’ve compiled resources in 10 categories View More Read the Rest of the Article at JVA sports in this article Volleyball tags in this article Athlete Healthy at Home JVA