Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, it’s time for a reality check.

Five weeks until 2023.

There are really only two ways this can go when it comes to your health and happiness and having the body that you want.

Option1: Come up with a reasonable and realistic exercise and nutrition plan to follow for the next 5 weeks, with the goal being to simply not lose ground before Jan. 1. Most people gain 5-10 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s … so not being one of those people would be a win.

Option 2: Throw your hands up and give in to the mindset that ‘tis the season for weight gain. Indulge at all the parties, skip all the workouts, and look in the mirror on New Year’s Day with a lot of work to do.

But here’s the thing. Which one of these options is more difficult than the other?

Most people might say Option 1 is the most challenging approach. After all, it takes work, planning, discipline and willpower to eat healthy and exercise during the holidays.

But the truth is … Option 2 is actually the easier approach.

Whereas 3-4 workouts a week might be the norm during the rest of the year … all you need to commit to for the next five weeks is 2 per week. 

And they don’t have to be – and actually, shouldn’t be – long, arduous, soul-crushing workouts. A few rounds of squats, push-ups and dumbbell curls will do.

During other times of year when you’re really trying to keep your nutrition on point and consistently lose weight, calorie restriction is a must. So is eating the right foods in the right amounts about 80% of the time.

Since all we’re trying to do is maintain our current weight for the next five weeks, we can afford to enjoy some treats here and there and lower that bar to, say, 60%.

Hopefully this illustrates how the better choice is not always the most difficult one.

Which option are you going to choose?

Coach Aaron