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The holidays are here and that means we're going to encounter a lot of BAMs. You might be asking, "What's a BAM?" Well my friend, BAM stands for a Big Ass Meal and you know exactly the kind of meals I'm talking about. It's the kind of meal that makes you regret all of your life decisions and has your family rolling you away from the table like Oompa Loompas rolling Violet out of the Chocolate factory. (PS If you don't get that reference then we can't be friends.) On the surface a BAM might seem completely harmless and it typically is, but where it can kill our gains is when it is happenining on a regular basis.
We all know the vicious cycle where we tell ourselves that we'll get it together the Monday after a BAM like Thanksgiving, but then Monday rolls around and we're still stuffing our faces with left over turkey, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce (gross). So, then a few days go by and we say "Ok I'll start next week". Then something comes up and this cycle keeps going until we've added 10+ pounds to the scale and now we're trying to come up with a gameplan for the New Year. See the problem?
The thing to remember is that if we can keep things under control during the holidays (or any time of year for that matter) then there won't be as big of a hurdle when the New Year rolls around. Doesn't it sound so much easier to drop 5 pounds compared to 20 pounds?... Does this mean we can't enjoy the pie, second servings, & other goodies that come along with the holidays? Hell no! You can bet your ass I will be eating just as much as the person next to me, but what will seperate the people with big set backs from those with little "speed bumps" is what they're doing the rest of the week.
So, what do we do? Glad you asked. All we need to do is to prepare during the week and post BAM (Big Ass Meals). For example, if we know we have a big dinner Thursday night, then be sure to get your workouts earlier in the day and keep food relatively clean for the rest of the day. Going along with that, don't do a long fast or skip meals leading up to a BAM because that is basically telling yourself that you're going to go buck wild and eat way too much. On the day of your BAM, keep eating like you normally would. After that just go back to your normal eating and training schedule. No crazy workouts or strict meal plans; just do the NORMAL!
Too often after a BAM people will try to punish themselves for what they ate or how much they ate and this can be a slippery slope leading to bigger issues like body dysmorphia, eating disorders, and having an all around negative relationship with food, which we don't want. We need to remember that we made the choice to eat x-amount of food. It was a conscious decision and we knew what the consequences would be, so beating ourselves up does absolutely no good and that's why we just want to keep moving forward with our normal routine.
The biggest tip we can give about BAMs is just to set a goal for the holiday season to keep you on track. No matter how small or dumb it may seem, this simple thing can be a huge ticket to your success. Even something as simple as "My goal is to not gain any weight during these next two months" can help keep you focused when those devilish BAMs come into your life.
At the end of the day I want you to enjoy yourself, make memories with friends & family, but also take care of yourself. YOU matter and your health matters. If you ever have questions just shoot an e-mail over to: info@awayathletics.com and we'll see what we can do to help.
Tips for your BAM
1) Get movement in PRIOR to your BAM
2) Keep it clean throughout the week leading to your BAM
3) No fasting or skipping meals
4) Return to normal routine post BAM
5) Don't beat yourself up
Disclaimer: The health information provided in this blog is provided for general informational and educational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional health advice. Accordingly, before taking any actions based on such information, we encourage you to consult with your doctor or other medical/healthcare professional. The use or reliance of any information contained on this site (www.awayathletics.com) is solely at your own risk.