Christmas isn’t a break from healthy living

I love Christmas. The laughter, the twinkly fairy lights, the smell of food being roasted and cinnamon, the way everything feels just a little bit more chilled and cosier. I love relaxing with friends and family, sittling down with a great film, and just chilling out. I’m not that fond of winter, but Christmas celebrations are one of my favourite times of year.

But as magical as Christmas is, it’s not a time when our bodies suddenly stop needing care. Your muscles don’t know it’s Christmas. Your digestion doesn’t take annual leave. Your nervous system doesn’t switch off just because there’s a cheese board in sight.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t eat the cheese board, if you want to, why not, it’s Christmas. But it does mean your body, and your mind, still benefit from the same basics they always do:
→ Moving regularly
→ Getting a few veggies and some protein in
→ Drinking some water
→ Getting enough rest
→ Connecting with people who make you feel good

For me, getting out and moving isn’t just a nice to have. It’s necessary. It helps my mental health, gives me a break from to much peopling and the chaos inside, and helps me feel calm and capable. Whether that’s a walk with the dogs, a quick lift at home, or a proper barbell session, movement is my reset button.

And I’m absolutely never about restriction so at Christmas, that still applies. I love a bit of Christmas pudding. I love a roast potato, and I’ll be having masses of them. But I also know that either side of that, to keep myself feeling good and energetic, I need to eat the vegetables (unroasted!), get my protein in, drink my water, and move my body. Because otherwise, as has happened before, my mental health will dip and so will my energy.

Movement and eating nutritious foods is what keeps me grounded, physically, mentally, hormonally, energetically. And when the gym reopens, I’ll be raring to go back to the barbell.

When we’ve built those basics into our lives all year round, Christmas doesn’t knock us off course. You don’t “fall off” anything… because there’s nothing to fall off.

If you train consistently, a few days off or a few extra mince pies don’t make a dent in your progress. In fact, resting, eating, and enjoying yourself can be exactly what your body needs to recharge before January comes along.

Where it can get tricky, though, is with alcohol.
Because while the food side of things is mostly about balance and enjoyment, alcohol hits our energy, mood, hormones, and sleep differently, especially in midlife. It’s why I stopped drinking alcohol aged 39 and have been sober ever since. You don’t need to declare yourself sober but it’s really worth being aware at Christmas and you might be drinking more alcohol that..

A few extra drinks can:

→ Disrupt your sleep (that 3am wide-awake feeling that leaves your brain racing, that’s cortisol)
→ Increase anxiety the next day
→ Lower your motivation to train or move
→ Mess with your hunger and blood sugar

It doesn’t mean you can’t raise a glass. But it’s worth asking:

• Will this drink add to my joy, or take away from my wellbeing tomorrow?

• Am I choosing it because I want it, or because I feel like I “should”?

Christmas doesn’t have to be all or nothing. You can eat a huge bowl of Christmas pudding (with brandy butter!) and go for a walk. You can skip a workout one day and get back to it the next. You can have fun without undoing all the progress you’ve made, because health isn’t a 6-week challenge. It’s a year-round act of care.

So, here’s your festive permission slip:
→ Enjoy the food you love.
→ Keep moving in ways that feel good.
→ Notice how alcohol makes you feel and choose accordingly.
→ And most importantly, don’t wait until January to “start again.” You’re already doing it.

If you want to roll into January feeling strong, confident, and full of energy, my next round of Stronger, Fitter You starts in Ilkeston, Derbyshire (just over the border from Nottingham ) in the New Year, why not ask someone to gift it to you?

Because honestly, what could be better than finally feeling strong, confident, and full of energy in 2026?