I Drank 30 Beers over Christmas and Didn’t Train Once – Here’s What Really Happened…
Confession time: Over the holidays, I didn’t hit the gym a single time. Zero workouts. Zilch.
But I did drink around 30 beers…
Sounds dramatic, doesn’t it? Like one of those clickbait Instagram reels: “I stopped training for 2 weeks – you won’t believe what happened to my body!”
The truth? Not much.
No sudden beer belly explosion. No complete loss of strength or muscle. Life didn’t fall apart.
We’re bombarded daily with influencers preaching that you must grind 24/7. No days off, or everything crumbles. But the reality? Your long-term habits are what truly shape your life and body.
Not how you choose to unwind during a well-deserved holiday break.
Of course, if I lived like that every week, zero training, endless beers then yeah, things would go sideways fast. But holidays are meant for relaxing, loosening up (literally and figuratively), and enjoying time with family and friends. So cut yourself some slack if you indulged too. Don’t beat yourself up over a few weeks off.
The key? Jump back on track once it’s over. That’s what separates a fun break from a downward spiral.
My Big Realisation? The Hidden Power of Everyday Movement
One thing this break hammered home for me: I normally get a ton of unplanned, incidental movement without even thinking about it.
Aside from the first couple of days (when I grudgingly painted the garage – the last thing I wanted, but perfect timing to get it done), I did… absolutely nothing. Lounged, ate, drank, repeated.
Even today, my first day back in the office, I’m planted behind a desk, barely moving.
I used to underestimate this “incidental activity” – mowing the lawn, washing the car, vacuuming, gardening, all that boring adult stuff. But without it? I’d probably be carrying a few extra kilos!
I train consistently, but not obsessively – about 4 days a week on average. A huge chunk of my daily calorie burn comes from this everyday “crap” I have to do anyway.
If you’re like most of us, squeezing in the recommended 3+ workouts per week while juggling a desk job, structured training alone won’t “derail” you if you take a break. But pair it with a mostly sedentary lifestyle? That’s where trouble brews.
After just a week or two of true couch-potato mode, I started feeling low-energy and sluggish. Your body (and especially your mitochondria, the powerhouses of your cells) thrives on movement. They need regular “wake-up calls” to keep energy levels high and metabolism humming.
This is where NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis) comes in. All those non-gym calories you burn through daily life. Research shows NEAT can vary hugely between people (up to 2,000 calories a day!) and plays a massive role in weight management and overall health. It’s often the unsung hero keeping many of us in shape.
So, this new year let’s not set lofty out of reach goals, try the small stuff first. Walk more, stand during phone calls, park further away all that stuff we ‘know’.
I’m sure you’ll be surprised at the impact it can make!
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