With Christmas and New Year's just behind us, many of us will still be in a festive spirit. And
with shopping, socializing and snowy evenings in front of the fire on the
agenda, it's easy to see how going to
the gym can start to take a back seat. During the winter months many of us
start to eat more and exercise less which can have a damaging effect on our
weight and fitness levels. Research indicates that the
average American will gain 2lbs during the Christmas holidays alone and
more worryingly, they will fail to lose this come new year. Although you will
be busy celebrating, there are still plenty of ways to keep fit and healthy
over the Christmas holidays while still having a great time.
Winter exercise
Although the prospect of
going out into the cold can seem unappealing, exercising
in lower temperatures can actually enable you to burn more calories as the
body works harder to keep you warm. You can also exercise for longer periods of
time in cooler weather which also adds to your calorie loss. From ice skating
to snowboarding, there are a lot of great winter exercises you can do during
the colder months. Even going for a brisk walk in the snow can get your blood
pumping and those feel good endorphins circulating – this can be good for
mental health as well as physical health with many experts recommending light
exercise as a good natural mood enhancer to fend
off the winter blues.
Eat well and bank
calories
It will come as no surprise
that one of the main causes of Christmas weight gain is over indulgence of
fatty foods and calorific beverages. Although Christmas is a time for
celebration and enjoying meals and drinks with the family, it is important to
do so thoughtfully if you want to battle the bulge. Be mindful of what you are
eating – turkey, vegetables and Christmas pudding are fine but do you really
need all of the accompanying trimmings, lashings of gravy and double cream as
well? Similarly, choose your drinks wisely as drinking
heavily can also contribute significantly to your calorie intake. Opt for
spirits and slimline tonics over beers and liqueurs and remember to keep
hydrated with plenty of water. It can also be beneficial to 'bank' some
calories in the weeks leading up to Christmas with a little extra workout time
per day and some short circuit training in preparation for those extra festive
treats.
Yoga and meditation
Christmas is a notoriously
stressful time of year. Whether it's last minute shopping, cooking preparations
or entertaining the family, even the most relaxed person can start to feel the
pressure when the big day arrives. Yoga
and meditation are great workouts to start the day with over the Christmas
period. On a physical level, power yoga in particular can be fast paced and
strenuous enough to help burn off calories but any type of yoga will improve
immunity and strengthen muscles. Mentally, the time out to focus on your
breathing and just relax will give you chance to unwind, decompress and find
calmness within. During this hectic time of year it can really make a
difference to how well you cope under pressure and thus enhance your overall
enjoyment.
Dance
Tis the season to be jolly
and why not get into the party spirit by dancing along to your favorite
Christmas songs. Aerobic dance is thought to burn over 400 calories an hour so
whether you are at the office party or simply bopping along in your own
kitchen, it is a great way to keep fit. With technology and exercise going hand
in hand these days, you could add a dance
mat or game to your Christmas list and enlist the whole family in the fun.
Not only will it encourage them to exercise without even leaving the house, but
it will bring everyone together in the spirit of Christmas.
Strength workouts
If you do manage to get to
the gym over the holidays then it's important to prioritise your workout. One
area you definitely shouldn't neglect is strength training as your muscle mass
is usually the first thing to decline when you stop exercising. Over the
holidays you might find you put a little weight on but this can easily be fixed
with plenty of cardio in the new year. Once you've lost that muscle mass you
will need to work hard to build it back up again.
