Here’s How to Stay Fit This Holiday Season According to Top Celebrity Trainers

They say summer bodies are made in the winter, but that can be a real conundrum, as holiday season falls smack dab in the middle of it all. But just because you’re traveling doesn’t mean you have to completely let go of your routine. After all, fitness is just as much about the physical health benefits as the mental ones, which can come really come in handy during this notoriously stressful time of year. We tapped some of West Hollywood’s best celebrity trainers asking them how to stay fit during the holidays. From turning common household furniture into gym equipment to the ideal quick-hit workouts, here are their tips.

1. Make Time for In-Flight (and Pre-Flight) Movement

“If you have a long flight, set timers to get up and stand at least once an hour,” Jess Hiestand, Manager of Training and Experience, Rumble Boxing. “I always stretch before getting on a flight, even a short one. I suggest moving your hips and opening up your back and shoulders. The structure of most plane seats encourages poor posture.”

Ianthe Mellors, an instructor at Barry’s agrees, taking it a step further with a small pre-flight stretching routine. “Find a quiet spot near your gate to loosen up with some spine roll-downs, side bends, and neck rolls. Prepping your spine before a long flight helps counteract stiffness,” he says. “I also book an aisle seat to stretch and move around during the flight. Near the restrooms, there’s often a little space for a side bend or yoga squat. Keeping active in small ways makes a big difference.”

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2. Get Your Steps In (Especially at the Airport)

Kirk Myers, personal trainer and founder of Dogpound, emphasizing that mental wellbeing is just as important as staying physically active. He cuts down on stress right from the jump, allowing plenty of time to get to the airport early with plenty of time to breathe. Madigan Mayberry, Lead Trainer of Pvolve West Hollywood takes it a step further, taking the extra time she has at the airport walking around to add in steps rather than anxiously sitting at the gate.

Once you’ve reached your final destination, find ways to clock in extra steps wherever you can. “Going for walks after meals, playing outside with the kids, and throwing a ball for the family dog are great ways to enjoy movement, even if you’re away from your favorite gym or studio,” says Hiestand.

3. Snack Smart

Aside from the obvious packing of your own unprocessed, low-sugar protein bars and unsalted nuts, Hiestand suggests going somewhere that serves breakfast specifically. “You can typically avoid fried food there. Get an omelet that has both protein and vegetables, and sourdough to round it out with some carbs. Just try to avoid heavy sauces like hollandaise.”

And perhaps it goes without saying, but the trainers we spoke to all recommended hydration as the number one thing not to skip while traveling. Pack your own water bottle and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. It’s so important to do this before flying, but also a great way to curb an appetite before a particularly indulgent meal.

4. Gear Up Gallon Jugs

“Gallon jugs are great because they’re adjustable [depending how how much you fill them],” says Hiestand, who uses other household items like stairs for split squats and calf raises, and chairs for tricep dips. Mellors suggests using big bags of rice as weights in a pinch, too. Or for some fun floor exercises, use a towel on a wooden floor as a makeshift glider.

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5. Stash Your Shoes (And Minimalist Equipment)

The first thing to always pack as a traveler trying to get in shape are your running shoes. It’s a free way to get your movement in while exploring a new area. Myers suggests packing something lightweight like resistance bands: “All you need is enough space to be able to do bodyweight movements like HIIT workouts, Pilates, yoga, or stretching, which is not much space at all. Also, earbuds or headphones are good to have, especially if you plan to work out with music early in the morning while others may be sleeping.”

6. Welcome Recovery

Recovery is essential to any great training routine, with many arguing it’s just as importance as the workouts themselves. “If you’re going to train like an athlete, you have to recover like an athlete,” says Mayberry. “If I’m traveling and have a day off from Pvolve, I’ll at least go for a walk or play pickleball with my family to get some sort of movement in. Mostly I try not to stress it and remember that workouts will always be there, but family time is precious.”

7. Redefine Your Routine

All four of the West Hollywood trainers we spoke with agreed that Tabata is a great way to get a quick sweat in at the start of the day. But there are other ways to keep your goals in mind. For Hiestand, it’s an adjusted routine of 100 squats, 100 glute bridges, 100 lunges, 200 abs, 50 push ups, 25 pull ups, which she splits up into 4 sets, with a 3-minute shadow boxing round between each quarter of the workout. Sounds intense, but effective.

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8. Don’t Call it a Cheat Day

“I hate the concept of cheat days. Having some meals that are more indulgent isn’t a cheat, and won’t derail your progress as long as you have balance and are mindful of portions,” says Hiestand. Mellors agrees. “I focus on eating foods that make me feel good and working out for my mental health,” he says. “Reframing this mindset helps me enjoy movement and food without guilt.”

9. Become an Early Bird

“Get up early and do it before everyone else gets up,” says Hiestand. “It will be very hard to break away from the family once everyone is awake. You’ll want to relax and hangout with them or your family will be asking a lot of you. Wake up allowing for however much time you need.”

10. Give Yourself Grace

“Enjoy the holidays! The benefits of family, friends, relaxing, and giving back to others are essential,” says Myers. The Barry’s camp agrees, emphasizing the importance of trusting your intuition when it comes to staying fit this time of year. “Always listen to your body. If you need rest, take it,” says Mellors. “The most important thing is to be kind to yourself.”

Mayberry is of the same mindset. “Life is way too short to not eat good food or pour yourself that second glass of wine,” she says. “Remember the holidays only happen once a year, so give yourself some grace.”