Hot cross buns, chocolate and long lunches don’t have to undo your hard work. Former elite gymnast Lauren Hannaford shares how she keeps her balance over the holidays.
Lauren Hannaford has been an elite gymnast, a fitness model and, famously, Dorothy the Dinosaur in The Wiggles. She now runs her own fitness program, FHIT by Lauren Hannaford. Her approach to holiday eating is simple: “The key is balance.”
Plan ahead
“Planning ahead is everything,” Hannaford says. In the weeks before a holiday, she keeps her training consistent and her meals mostly healthy. She still has treats, but smaller portions. “The idea is to reward yourself without taking a step backwards on your fitness goals.”
On the day
Her three rules:
- Watch portions, don’t skip treats. Just be conscious of how much you’re eating.
- Drink water. She finds it helps curb sugar cravings.
- Keep your other meals on track. Make breakfast, lunch and dinner nutritious so the treats fit in.
“It’s about maintaining equilibrium, not restriction.”
And afterwards
“Enjoy yourself! Easter is meant to be fun,” she says. “When the holiday is over, you’ll feel proud you could celebrate without guilt – that’s what makes it sustainable.”
