It’s the holidays! Time for friends, family and cheer…and weight gain.
Face it, the forbidden foods you’re normally good at avoiding all year are going to make their appearance for the holiday season. Maybe you’ll manage to to keep it to a couple pounds. No big deal, right?
According to Science Daily, it can be. Allowing yourself a small amount of weight gain one year can be a slippery slope to overweight. So this season, introduce these easy “workouts” into your holiday routine.
Resign Yourself to Those Far-Away Parking Spots
It makes sense on your shopping excursions to find the best parking spot, along with the best deals. This year, think about your waistline, and opt for the forgotten spots in the back of the parking lot.
According to Runner’s World, you can burn approximately 5 calories per minute walking a brisk pace. So, the further, the better.
Let the Children Show You the Way
Kids are out of school and ready to have fun over the holidays. Try to match their energy for a while.
Not only will you get to spend quality time with the younger members of your family, but you’ll get plenty of exercise while you’re at it. According to Huffington Post, you’ll burn anywhere from 100-150 calories in fifteen minutes with winter activities such as sledding and snowball fights.
Bad Spending Habits, Good Fitness Habits
Use this creative tip from How Stuff Works to ease the guilt of holiday spending. For every $10 spent, dedicate 10 minutes of time to working out. This will help you remember your fitness goals during this busy time of year.
Let Your Smartphone Help You
If you’re like most people, you spend a lot of time staring at your phone. Use it to your advantage to keep those pesky pounds off this holiday season. There are countless apps dedicated to improving your health. If you have an Apple phone, your steps are counted automatically in the ‘Health’ app. Pedometers are a great way to get moving, for anyone.
The “7 Minute Workout” app is perfect if you’re looking for an ultra quick workout. Or maybe you enjoy yoga and would like to try “Yoga Studio” for a wide range of workouts. Browse the app store on your phone, and you’ll surely find something for you.
Mix It Up
There’s a lot of sit-down activities accompanying the holidays. Mix in some movement this year. Are you a fan of watching football? Play some friendly two-hand touch with the family. Hockey? Get out on your neighborhood skating rink. Often, they offer times where the public can play hockey as well as skate.
Many families enjoy a nice drive to view Christmas decorations. For a more active take on this, bundle up and take a stroll down a well-lit street. Or walk door to door, and serenade your neighbors with Christmas carols. Even if some of your family members aren’t gifted in the singing department, it’ll give everyone a good laugh.
You don’t even need to leave the comfort of your own home to distract people from sitting around and overindulging in the grub. Organize fun activities for everyone such as a Turkey Feather Hunt (Thanksgiving version of an Easter egg-hunt). Or rope people into helping put up decorations. Calories will be burned, and your house will look fantastic.
Don’t let the holidays take a toll on your health. Use these suggestions to prevent those pounds from packing on, or use them to inspire your own ideas. As long as you keep fitness on your mind this season, you should be in good shape!
Eat, drink and be merry. Food and festivities galore. That’s right, the holidays are back again, poised to provoke your inner slacker at every turn. With endless hours of football games and so many long-lost family members to catch up with, you’re sure to spend an unconscionable amount of time in a chair with beer to your left and onion dip to your right.
Or are you? Here at Fill-in-the-blank Fitness, we’re giving you permission to take a stand against lethargy and decadence. Take control of your physical well being during this holiday season with these helpful tips.
Get a Good Start to the Day
What we do in the morning tends to shape our entire day. Why not start it off right with your favorite raw smoothie and a little exercise? From a quick yoga session to taking a walk or light jog, use the time to formulate a game plan to help you through the impending frenzy.
Not only will you feel more centered, but you’ll have a positive outlook on the day and be prepared for anything.
Get Up & Move
Just because everyone else settles in for the big game doesn’t mean you have to. Go ahead, watch some of the game and engage with your friends and family, but don’t let it turn you into a comatose lump on the couch.
Be the one who offers to walk the dog, take a child outside to play or help out in the kitchen. Whatever it takes, get yourself back on your feet and get your blood flowing.
Exercise You Can Do Anywhere
Well, almost anywhere. Please don’t be the guest who bursts into a set of push-ups in the middle of the living room. Rather, try some of these great bodyweight exercises back in your hotel if you’re traveling, or at home if the long holiday hours have kept you away from the gym.
- Push-ups
- Pull-ups
- Abdominal crunches
- Jumping jacks
- Shadow boxing
Everything in Moderation
Be mindful of your intake of food and drinks. Supplement alcoholic beverages with plenty of fresh water to stay well hydrated. Have a little of that delicious holiday cheese ball, but use carrots or celery sticks as your scoop in lieu of processed chips or crackers. In addition to keeping some semblance of your fitness routine, it’s equally important to have a wonderful and joyous holiday season.
Remember, true fitness is in sync with overall wellness, which involves taking care of the whole person – body, mind and soul.
Don’t hesitate to contact us for more great ways you and your loved ones can have a merry and healthy holiday season.
