Holiday Break is No Break for Serious Athletes

Setting a Plan and Sticking to It is the Key

Everyone else may be headed for a few weeks off when the holiday break comes, but there’s no such thing as a break for serious college prospects.  Certainly, there’s relief from the academic grind of day-to-day classroom work, but while others may be gorging on seasonal goodies, athletes must remain vigilant to their diets and exercise regimens. 

The holiday season is fraught with opportunities to cheat and fall back on diet and conditioning.  And, there will be days when a turkey sandwich with mayo on white bread alongside a pile of chips and a glass of cold milk is too tempting to pass up.  Nevertheless, athletes who want to maintain their physical status during the holidays must have the willpower to turn away from overindulgence.  To borrow an overused phrase, moderation is the key. 

Tough as it may be, it’s the life a college-bound athlete has chosen.  Ever mindful that there is always a competitor out there (someone gunning for the same scholarship offer) whose self-discipline will keep him or her on track, the athletes who stay the course and come out of the December vacation without having crumbled under the pressure to eat more and exercise less are the ones with a decided advantage headed into the spring.  Slapping the pounds on happens quickly, but tugging them off is a far rougher task.

Our best advice?  Prior to the holidays starting, jot down and commit to eating guidelines and a rigid workout schedule.  Give yourself some leeway, yes, but don’t stray too far away, at least not to the extent of making recovery a painful ordeal.  At the top of the page write this:  MY HOLIDAY COMMITMENTS.  Post them in your bedroom and on the kitchen fridge.  Read the list daily as a reminder of your goals and adjust if the need arises.