So You Want To Train For Something During The Holidays
Training through the holidays doesn’t have to be chaos or a calorie burn-fest. In this post, we talk about staying consistent when travel, family, and festivities try to derail you. Learn how to plan ahead, flex your routine, and hold boundaries without being that person at dinner. Because December doesn’t have to be a detour from your goals—it can be a test of adaptability.
BLACK IRON RADIO EP. 296: So You Want To Train For Something During The Holidays
The holidays are almost here, but that doesn't mean your training has to vanish into a black hole. Krissy, Manders, and Kelly talk about maintaining training momentum when your routine goes off the rails from things like travel, family, and social gatherings. Whether you're prepping for a race, meet, or competition, or just trying to keep momentum through the season, it is possible to stay consistent without being too extreme about it. December doesn't have to be a detour from your goals. In fact, it can be a test of adaptability.
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The holidays are here — travel, family, food, chaos, and all. But that doesn’t mean your training has to vanish into a peppermint-scented black hole. Whether you’re chasing a PR, prepping for a race, or just trying to keep momentum through the season, it is possible to stay consistent without being the Grinch at dinner.
Plan Ahead Like an Athlete, Not a Martyr
Before you even pack your bags, be real about what’s possible.
Are you driving ten hours? Flying across the country? Staying somewhere without gym access? Cool — plan for that. You don’t have to white-knuckle your routine to make it “count.” Adjust your schedule, shorten sessions, and give yourself a realistic game plan.
If your week includes travel, events, and weird schedules, pre-plan your sessions like appointments you actually want to keep. You might not be hitting perfect programming, but something is always better than nothing — and ten minutes is something.
Ditch the All-or-Nothing Mentality
Your training doesn’t have to look perfect to still count.
Maybe you swap your long run for a short jog, or trade your barbell session for a 30-minute bodyweight circuit. You’re still moving. You’re still showing up. Progress happens in the gray area between all-in and not-at-all.
Stop thinking, “If I can’t do it all, it’s not worth doing.”
You can absolutely compress your workouts. You’ll feel better, your body will thank you, and your future self will be smugly proud.
Boundaries Are a Training Tool
If taking 30 minutes for yourself during family chaos makes you feel guilty — read that again.
You’re not selfish for moving your body. You’re maintaining your sanity. The people who love you will survive 30 minutes without you.
And if they really can’t? Bring them with you. Go for a walk, do a quick dumbbell circuit, or teach your uncle how to plank without looking like he’s dying. You might even inspire someone — or at least entertain them.
Flexibility Is a Superpower
Sometimes “training” during the holidays looks like running errands… literally. Krissy once jogged to the store for her grandma and called it a workout. If you’re driving long distances, stop halfway for a 20-minute shakeout. Little things keep your body in rhythm and your mood in check.
Kelly’s “million-dollar theory” sums it up perfectly:
If someone offered you a million bucks to make it work, you’d find a way. You don’t need a million dollars — just a little effort and creativity.
Food, Flexibility, and Self-Trust
You can’t out-train poor nutrition, but you also don’t need to weigh your turkey.
If you’re tracking, fine. If you’re not, also fine. Holidays are a great chance to practice portion awareness and self-trust. Build a balanced plate, stop around 80% full, and remember that one meal doesn’t undo months of work.
Eat the pie your aunt only makes once a year. Skip the grocery-store cookies you could buy any Tuesday. Prioritize protein when you can, drink water, and don’t overthink the rest.
Control the Controllables
You can’t control your aunt’s casserole lineup, but you can control your effort, mindset, and how you plan.
Order groceries ahead if you’re traveling. Pack snacks or protein options. Bring a veggie tray if you’re contributing to dinner — and no, that doesn’t make you “the healthy one.” It makes you prepared.
If you’re short on time, remember Instacart exists. Order your staples and get your workout in instead of wandering the grocery store. Work smarter, not guiltier.
Perspective Check
A week of flexibility doesn’t erase your fitness.
Months (or years) of progress don’t disappear because you trained less or ate more mashed potatoes. What does disappear is momentum if you throw the whole month away because of a few busy days.
The holidays aren’t a setback — they’re a test of adaptability.
You’re not losing fitness; you’re learning to sustain it in real life. That’s the whole point.
TL;DR:
Plan ahead, be flexible, move when you can, eat like an adult, and remember — December doesn’t decide your results. You do.
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If you enjoyed this conversation, check out more episodes of Black Iron Radio, where we cut through the noise and give you real, no-BS advice on feeling, performing, and looking your best. Each week we share practical nutrition, training, and wellness strategies and tips to help you succeed.
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