Stay lean and fit this holiday season with our holiday health and fitness tips!
Holiday Fitness Tips to Keep You Moving This Holiday Season
1. Prioritize and Keep Your Routine
The holiday season is a time for parties and socializing, but that doesn’t have to mean that you let go of your workout routine.
It can also be very tempting to put workouts on hold with a promise to start again in the new year. This is a big mistake.
Stopping altogether leads to detraining and lets you get back to zero when you resume again in a few weeks. Maintaining is the key to an effective workout routine.
If a 30-minute workout in your garage is all you can manage, then get the most out of it and sweat it out. Even if you need to reduce the time of your workouts, it is still better than entirely skipping it.
Sure, it’s hard to say no to all those get-together invites, but planning and managing your time wisely will do the trick for you.
2. Schedule Your Workout Wisely
During the holidays, your to-do list grows longer and scheduling your workout becomes even more challenging.
You can begin managing your time by evaluating your holiday schedule and see what is the best time to do your workout.
If possible, do it first thing in the morning, so you have no reason to set it aside later in the day when you get caught with the things you needed to do.
If you have no time to go to the gym then you can try using fitness apps or look for fitness programs which do not require training equipment.
You can also do a quick run or bike around your neighborhood and use apps such as Strava to keep track of your workout.
3. Indulge Wisely and Moderately
The majority of people gain weight during the holidays because of overeating holiday treats.
While it is hard not to treat yourself with those delectable foods, it is also important to remember that staying fit and healthy is more important.
We are not saying to avoid those foods, but you should learn how to indulge properly. Watch out for portions by eating foods that will keep you full longer first and grab a bite of those yummy holiday treats afterward.
That way, you won’t be feeling guilty for all the unhealthy foods you stuff in your tummy. Drinking water beforehand is also helpful.
4. Choose Your Drink Wisely
Parties and reunions during the holidays will, of course, involve alcohol. You can still be the life of the party while keeping your fitness goals in mind.
Choose champagne or wine over beer and other high spirit alcoholic drinks. It is also important to drink in moderation and know your limits.
Even better, you can choose non-alcoholic beverages instead to avoid being rude to your friends and families.
5. Stock Your Fridge with Healthy Foods
With all the decorating, preparations, and parties going on, you are left with less time to prepare healthy meals. In this case, you may need to stock your refrigerator with healthy meals and snacks.
Cook healthy dishes ahead of time that you can freeze. When you’re too busy with gift wrapping or cleaning the house for a party, then it’s easy to heat up one of those frozen meals you have prepared.
Related: Bodyweight Exercises To Try While On Holiday
6. List a New Workout Gear on Your Gift Wishlist
The holiday season is also a time for giving and receiving. Take advantage of the gift exchange events to refuel your workout motivation by putting workout gear as part of your Christmas wish list.
A nice workout gear makes you feel better and receiving it as a gift from a loved one will make it even more meaningful.
7. Find a Workout Buddy
Having a workout buddy helps fuel up your fitness motivation. Look for someone with a goal similar to yours, and you’ll be surprised at how much you’ll be helping each other.
You can also use this time to encourage people who are not into working out to start their fitness routine.
When you have relatives coming through your place for the holidays, take this opportunity to create a bond with them. You can take them running to a nearby park and also use the time to show them around.
You can also take them hiking to an easy mountain trail and show them the best views of your city while enjoying the fresh air and having a nice nature trip.
8. Join a New Year’s Race
There are many holiday races happening during the holiday season, and joining one helps you to keep active. Whether you’re a regular in joining marathons or a beginner, a 5K or 10K run during a New Year’s race will motivate you to train and make preparations.
Search through the internet for marathon events near you and sign up families and friends for more fun and motivation.
9. Sleep More
Another one of the most important fitness tips is monitoring the sleep you get during this season. During the busy holiday season, preparation for numerous events can disrupt your healthy sleeping routine.
No matter how much you want to stay up until the end of each party you attend, don’t forget that sleep deprivation greatly affects your overall health.
Not getting enough sleep increases your body’s production of ghrelin which messes your appetite. It increases your desire to overeat, and therefore, can hugely affect your holiday fitness routine.
Give this Evertrain-approved dumbbell circuit a try to kickstart your training this year:
With all the holiday activities going on, staying fit can be harder to achieve. With the right discipline and motivation, it will become very easy for you.
Remember that the holidays should bring you delightful moments and not stress you out. Learn how to incorporate these fitness tips with your holiday festivities to create a healthy and joyous holiday.
Which of these fitness tips will be your goal for the holiday season? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
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