Are You Making These Common Holiday Fitness Mistakes? (Portland Maine Gym Owner Reveals All)
Hey there! It's that time of year again... December's here, and I can already see it happening at EA Fitness & Performance. You know what I'm talking about, right?
The holiday season rolls around, and suddenly everyone's fitness routine goes out the window faster than a kid tearing into presents on Christmas morning.
As someone who's been helping folks in Portland, Maine stay fit for years, I've seen the same mistakes happen over and over again. And honestly? It breaks my heart a little because most of these pitfalls are totally avoidable.
So let's talk about it. Here are the biggest holiday fitness mistakes I see people making every December – and more importantly, how you can avoid them.
Mistake #1: Going Full Grinch and Skipping Workouts Completely
This is the big one. The granddaddy of all holiday fitness mistakes.
You're stressed, you're busy, the gym has weird holiday hours, and suddenly you think, "You know what? I'll just take a break until January 1st."
Stop.
I get it – the holidays are crazy. But here's the thing: your body doesn't take a vacation just because it's December. When you combine skipping workouts with all those extra cookies, eggnog, and holiday dinners... well, you're setting yourself up for a rough January.
The fix: Don't aim for perfection – aim for consistency. Even 20 minutes, two times a week is infinitely better than zero minutes, zero times a week. Your future self will thank you.
At our gym, we actually see our most successful members during the holidays. Want to know their secret? They show up. Not every day, not for two-hour sessions, but they show up consistently.
Mistake #2: Overambitious Planning (The "Holiday Hero" Syndrome)
On the flip side, some of you go completely overboard in the other direction. You look at your calendar and think, "Okay, I'm going to work out five times a week, meal prep every Sunday, and somehow become the fittest version of myself by New Year's."
Here's what usually happens with this approach: You plan these amazing workouts, but then life happens. Your sister needs you to help with Christmas shopping. Your office holiday party runs late. The kids have a snow day.
Suddenly, you've missed three workouts in a row, you feel like a failure, and you give up entirely.
The reality check: December is not the month for your most ambitious fitness goals. It's the month for being smart, strategic, and sustainable.
The fix:
Plan for 2-3 workouts per week max. Make them count, but make them realistic. I tell my clients to aim for two solid small group training sessions per week during December. It's manageable, effective, and you'll actually stick to it.
Mistake #3: The All-or-Nothing Cardio Trap
Every December, I see people abandon their strength training and go all-in on cardio.The thinking is: "I'm eating more, so I need to burn more calories, so I'll just run on the treadmill for an hour every day."
Here's the problem with this approach – it's not sustainable, and it's not even that effective.
When you ditch strength training completely, you lose muscle mass. When you lose muscle mass, your metabolism slows down. When your metabolism slows down, you actually burn fewer calories throughout the day.
The better approach: Keep strength training as your foundation. Yes, add some extra cardio if you want, but don't make it your entire routine.
Our personal training clients who maintain their strength routines through the holidays? They come back in January stronger than when they left. The ones who switch to cardio-only? They're starting from scratch.
Mistake #4: Perfectionist Eating (The "I'll Start Monday" Mentality)
This one drives me absolutely nuts because I see it destroy people's progress every single year.
Here's how it goes: You eat a piece of pie at the office party on Tuesday. Instead of just moving on, you think, "Well, I already messed up today, might as well eat whatever I want for the rest of the week. I'll get back on track Monday."
So Tuesday becomes a write-off. Wednesday becomes a write-off. The whole week becomes a write-off.
The truth: One piece of pie isn't going to ruin your fitness goals. But seven days of "I already messed up" thinking absolutely will.
The mindset shift:
Every meal is a fresh start. Every snack is a chance to make a good choice. You don't have to wait until Monday, or January 1st, or any other arbitrary date.
Mistake #5: Ignoring Sleep and Stress Management
I know, I know – sleep isn't technically "fitness." But here's the thing: if you're not sleeping well, everything else falls apart.
December is stressful. Shopping, cooking, family dynamics, end-of-year work deadlines... it all adds up.
When you're stressed and sleep-deprived, your body produces more cortisol. More cortisol means more cravings for sugary, high-calorie foods. It also makes it harder to build muscle and easier to store fat.
The fix: Treat sleep like it's part of your fitness routine. Aim for 7-8 hours. Create a bedtime routine. Put your phone away an hour before bed.
And stress management? That's where exercise actually helps. A good workout is one of the best stress relievers you can find.
Mistake #6: Traveling Without a Plan
Whether you're visiting family in Boston or taking the kids to see relatives down south, travel can completely derail your fitness routine. But here's what I tell my clients: you don't need a full gym to stay active.
Smart travel strategies:
- Pack resistance bands (they take up zero space)
- Use bodyweight exercises in your hotel room
- Walk whenever possible
- Find a local gym with day passes
- Use hotel fitness centers (even if they're basic)
The goal isn't to maintain your exact routine – it's to maintain the habit of moving your body.
The Portland Maine Advantage: Community Support
You know what I love about our community here in Portland? We support each other.
This is why I'm such a big believer in small group training during the holidays. When you're working out with other people who have the same challenges – busy schedules, holiday stress, family obligations – you realize you're not alone in this.
Plus, there's built-in accountability. When Sarah knows you're supposed to be at the 6 AM session on Wednesday, you're way more likely to show up than if you're trying to motivate yourself to work out alone in your basement.
What Success Really Looks Like
Here's the thing about holiday fitness – success isn't about losing weight in December. Success isn't about setting new personal records.
Success is showing up consistently, even when it's hard. Success is making the best choice available to you in each moment. Success is getting to January 2nd and not feeling like you have to "start over."
When you avoid these common mistakes, you get to January feeling strong, confident, and ready to take your fitness to the next level. You don't have to spend the first month of the new year just trying to get back to where you were in November.
Ready to Make This Your Best Holiday Season Yet?
If you're tired of the same old cycle – struggling through the holidays, feeling guilty in January, spending months getting back to where you started – let's change that pattern.
Whether you're interested in personal training or want to try our supportive small group training environment, we're here to help you navigate the holidays without sacrificing your health and fitness goals.
The holidays don't have to be a fitness disaster. With the right approach, they can actually be a time when you prove to yourself just how committed you are to taking care of yourself.
Ready to make it happen? Get in touch with us and let's create a plan that works for your life, your schedule, and your goals.
You've got this! 💪
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