It’s that time of year when our motivation and forward momentum towards our health goals takes a hit. Does this sound like you? Tune in to learn how to navigate your health around the holidays, whether it’s your most, or least, favorite time of year.Today, Jenn is joined by fitness professionals, Tanya Becker and Chad Levy for a Fitmas episode! They talk about why physical and mental health is so important for our longevity. Tanya and Chad discuss how they help their clients stay motivated and inspired throughout the holidays, along with some great tips to keep your ‘why’ a priority, even when it may be easier to just sit on the couch and watch Netflix. They discuss utilizing accountability and a community to help motivate movement as well as the solid connections that can be formed to help with mental and physical health. With the New Year approaching, they also talk about alternatives to New Year’s Resolutions that can create longer lasting effects. Tune in to learn how to have the best Fitmas this holiday season. The Salad With a Side of Fries podcast is hosted by Jenn Trepeck, discussing wellness and weight loss for real life, clearing up the myths, misinformation, bad science & marketing surrounding our nutrition knowledge and the food industry. Let’s dive into wellness and weight loss for real life, including drinking, eating out, and skipping the grocery store.IN THIS EPISODE: ●  [13:23] Why is physical fitness so important for longevity? ●  [14:17] How can you get yourself to exercise when you really don’t feel like it?●  [21:16] How to navigate the holidays and fitness when you are short on time. ●  [23:09] How can you use accountability to create a positive workout experience?●  [24:38] What is it like teaching a virtual class through Zoom or a similar platform?●  [34:02] How does physical activity help with mental emotional health?●  [38:44] How do Tanya and Chad help people continue to make positive choices for themselves?●  [43:39] Why is prioritizing health over the holidays hard for people?●  [46:35] What is a good alternative to a New Year's Resolution? ●  [51:47] Why is it so important to have a support group and create connections?KEY TAKEAWAYS: ●  [15:20] Every single movement that you do, every weight that you lift, is a step in the direction towards the ultimate functionality and mobility of your body. ●  [16:38] You need to move your body every day, whether it’s going for a walk, your favorite fitness class, do something every single day. You don’t have to stress yourself or suffer, but move every single day. It may not always feel good when you get started, but you’re always going to feel better afterwards. ●  [51:49] It's okay to be going through what you're going through, you're not alone.  People are there to help and to lift you up if you just look. Every step forward for your health and well being is a step in the right direction. QUOTES: “Looking at this time of year and going, what am I celebrating? What can I celebrate? And how am I contributing to my longevity and my healthspan on a daily basis.” - Tanya Becker“People that live long, have a strong community...if you're struggling to do movement or anything, connect with someone." - Tanya Becker“I think, being a trainer, you’re giving and you’re inspiring and working so much for your clients, so when you say, “I have to take care of myself and do this for myself as well”, you’re exhausted. There’s every excuse in the book to not do something, except for thinking, do I want to move with ease still? Do I want to have my daily activities I don't have to think about, because I can lift something overhead or I can pick something up or I can go up those stairs. I keep saying that mantra to myself over and over: what you work for, you will achieve.” - Chad Levy“Choose each day to show up and be grateful and find those things. Just like building the physical muscles is longevity, community, and connection. The mental emotional stuff is also a muscle and also a practice.” - Jenn Trepeck“If you don’t work a muscle out enough, to the point of it getting weaker, it’s not going to have that same tone. And that’s exactly the same for our emotional and mental well being. I believe it’s a daily practice. You have to connect an emotion to it and a feeling to it and really get yourself in that state of gratitude and that you can do through meditation instead of just saying the words or writing a gratitude list. How do you emotionally get there? Volunteer, get out of self, do service work, call somebody.” - Tanya Becker“Muscle is your savings account.” - Jenn Trepeck“We talked about connecting through fitness and exercise, but also having that really strong support group for when you're going through it. You have people that you know you can help support you. - Tanya Becker“Relish in the moments of 2023 that were everything you wanted them to be and more and take that with you. Leave everything else that doesn't serve you.” - Jenn TrepeckRESOURCES:The Method Behind the Madness with Tanya BeckerFunctional Fitness To See Your Inner Warrior with Chad LevyQ&A Fitness Edition with Tanya Becker & Chad LevyLongevity Equation EpisodeMeditation For StressResolution Revolution Program - Text 2024 to 844-947-4846Become A Member of Salad with a Side of FriesJenn’s Free Menu PlanA Salad With a Side of FriesA Salad With A Side Of Fries MerchA Salad With a Side of Fries InstagramGUEST RESOURCESTanya Becker’s Resources:Tanya Becker Coaching WebsiteTanya Becker's InstagramTanya Becker's FacebookTanya Becker's YouTube ChannelChad Levy’s Resources:Chad Levy's WebsiteChad Levy's InstagramChad Levy's FacebookGUEST BIO:Tanya Becker has been changing bodies for more than 30 years in the fitness world, as a dancer then fitness instructor and she co-founder of Physique 57. Today, after becoming a life coach in the last few years, she’s more passionate than ever about inspiring, empowering and coaching women to live lives beyond their wildest dreams, making their second acts better than their first. As she says, you can reimagine, reinvent and recreate your life!Chad Levy has over 20 years of personal training experience. He is a Certified Personal Trainer from N.A.S.M. (National Academy of Sports Medicine) and also holds certifications in Behavior Change, Corrective Exercise, and as a Performance Specialist.  In 2012, he joined Physique 57, the premier barre fitness company in the world. In 2020 he officially opened his own personal training business, Chad Health and Development (C.H.A.D). He believes that getting fit for life is the key to longevity and health.