Ah, the most wonderful (and challenging) time of the year is upon us - family, friends, food, holidays, travel - all the things we look forward to while simultaneously dreading because we know the impact it’ll have on our health and fitness goals. The easy thing to do? Declare that you’ll “start again in January,” but that mindset usually leads to overeating, missed workouts, and low confidence.
But this year could be completely different. What if you were able to still enjoy all of the fun holiday festivities while also feeling proud of how you showed up for yourself?
That’s exactly what we’re going to be focusing on inside the Holiday Habit Hustle in the Simply Strong App this holiday season. I’m going to show you how to stay consistent, confident, and strong through the season without feeling restricted, overwhelmed, or burnt out. In the meantime, here are some of my best tips for staying on track and actually feeling good through the holidays this year.
For so many of us, progress this holiday season is going to look like doing SOMETHING vs doing NOTHING. Typically, we think we need to either be all in or all out - that there’s no such thing as a balanced, middle ground. But the truth is, there is, you just haven’t figured out how to navigate it yet. You’re caught in the trap of thinking you need to be 100% ON, so when you inevitably “slip up,” you hit the screw it button and let the wheels fall off completely. If this is you, no shame, we’ve all been there, and I’m here to walk you through a better way.
Your goal isn’t to be perfect with your fitness and nutrition; it’s to stay consistent enough to maintain where you’re at. In my opinion, this time of year is not the time of year to commit to any serious weight loss goals, even if you’ve already embarked on a weight loss journey prior to the holidays. This might be a period of time to take a diet break and focus on maintaining.
Maintaining looks like eating within your maintenance calorie range (not a deficit) and staying consistent with a handful of crucial habits that keep your body and mind in a place of momentum. Maintenance can look like reducing the number of days you work out, doing shorter workouts, saying yes to treats while also saying yes to protein-rich meals. It’s being ok with doing just enough to maintain your results while practicing consistency and perseverance through a handful of daily habits. It’s knowing that every small choice adds up so long as you commit to showing up every day, even in the smallest of ways - this is what reinforces the fact that your goals still matter, even during the busiest season of the year.
One of the best ways to stay grounded and consistent through the holidays is to decide what truly matters most to your health right now. A good way to think about this is to ask yourself, “If I did a few things consistently over the next few weeks, what would make the biggest difference?” Here are a few examples:
These simple, realistic “anchors” help to keep your body feeling strong and your habits steady, even when everything else feels chaotic.
During the holiday season, when things are already feeling busy and chaotic, you might need to lower your expectations for your workouts. Instead of spending an hour in the gym, you’re probably better off switching to shorter, simpler workouts during this season. And if you’re worried about losing progress, don’t. The holiday season is short in the grand scheme of things. Rather than hold tightly onto your full-length workouts and then be completely disappointed when you can’t maintain that commitment, lower your expectations and know that doing something is always better than nothing.
Inside the Simply Strong App, we have our Holiday Habit Hustle program, where we’re sharing strength training workouts that are realistic and meant to fit perfectly into a busy holiday schedule. Think 20-25 minute workouts, weekly walking workouts, and plenty of accountability!
I know planning during the holidays can be tough, and there’s no need to try to map everything out, but looking ahead at your week will make a huge difference in your ability to keep up with your daily habits. Check your calendar and ask:
Here are some quick strategies that can make staying on track easier:
If we’re being honest, holiday food is a big part of the joy of the season, and you should absolutely enjoy it. The key is to do with intention and mindfulness.
Choose your favorite treats and savor them. Don’t just eat things because they’re there; eat the one(s) you love and look forward to the most.
Remember that one meal won’t make or break your progress. If you end up eating and/or drinking too much one day, don’t fall into the all or nothing trap and end up going off the rails, just hop back in by making the next best decision - get right back to your habits.
The goal isn’t to avoid all of the holiday goodies, which always backfires. Instead, the goal is to choose which sweets and treats will be the most enjoyable and eat them mindfully. When you do this, you’ll enjoy yourself more and you’ll feel physically better.
One of the biggest reasons why people lose momentum and fall off track over the holidays is that they try to do it alone. But having support, even a small group, will change everything. That’s exactly what the Holiday Habit Hustle is all about: community, education, encouragement, and accountability. You’ll learn how to move your body, fuel your body, focus on small habits, and stay consistent alongside other women who are doing the same things.
Because when you have people cheering you on and systems in place to hold you accountable, it’s so much easier to keep showing up, especially when life feels full and hectic.
If you’re one of those people who dread this time of year because you always gain weight or fall out of sync with your habits, let’s make this the year that we change that - yes, it’s that easy! Make the decision to commit to some basic, common-sense health habits this holiday season, and you’ll be amazed by how much better you feel (physically, mentally, and emotionally) when you learn how to navigate the holidays with balance.
And if you’d like structure, support, education, accountability, and encouragement along the way, you belong inside my Holiday Habit Hustle program. This quick but impactful program will keep you accountable for 21 days, providing you with the momentum you need to stay on track through the holidays and head into January strong and ready for what’s next.
Join the Holiday Habit Hustle interest list below and be on the lookout for the registration email on 11/24/25. The challenge officially kicks off on 12/1/25 and runs through 12/21/25. If you’re an active Simply Strong App member, this challenge is completely free for you. If you’re not a member, the total cost is just $19.
Here’s what’s included with the Holiday Habit Hustle:
For busy women who need a proven strength training plan that saves you time and helps you make progress.
Science-backed strength training for women made by Tami Smith, CPT.
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An easy-to-follow strength plan for busy women.
