Gyms are pretty deserted at Christmas. Everyone is so busy with preparations, parties, and people visiting that it’s hard to adjust to getting there, changing, and following a routine as regularly as you would the rest of the year.
But don’t stop exercising altogether; you’ll find it much harder to get back into the swing of things if you do. Make exercise part of the fun and stay active until it’s time to hit the gym again in January. Maybe you enjoy the alternatives so much that you will never go back!
1. Do less
Just do ten minutes if that’s all you can handle. Ten minutes of anything, walking around the house, climbing stairs, skipping or skipping, anything that suits your fitness level and the equipment you have available at home. You can do it in the morning before taking a shower and it will give you energy for everything you have to do. If you can get in 10 minutes later too, all the better. You’ll maintain your fitness levels and use up some calories that you can probably use this time of year.
2. Take a class at home
Exercise videos are great if you don’t have a lot of time. You don’t have to go to the gym: you have everything you need at home. You can pick them up for next to nothing at charity shops or treat yourself to one or two for Christmas. And it doesn’t matter if you don’t know the moves or don’t have the latest fitness equipment, no one is looking!
3. Clean
No doubt you have to prepare your home for visiting friends and family anyway, so exercise. Put a lot of energy into it! Clear away all that clutter, and then wipe, vacuum, and polish everything to a shine. You’ll be ready for guests, maintaining your fitness levels, and using up some calories at the same time.
4. Active fun
If you have a lot of guests and can’t get your usual dose of exercise, organize some active fun for everyone. They could all go bowling or rollerblading. Or try a game of charades or Twister. If it snows, you can go sledding or have a snowman building contest. At least take them all out for a walk every day regardless of the weather. There will surely be some lights to go see or a local carol service to attend.
5. Dance the night away
Don’t be a wallflower. Take every opportunity to dance at parties (it will also keep you away from the buffet table) or just ask your partner to dance during the holidays. You will have fun, you will get closer and it will be a great exercise. Dancing consumes between 270 and 540 calories per hour depending on the speed.
6. Offer a helping hand
Stay active by volunteering your services in your community. You can help serve lunch at a homeless shelter or nursing home. Or just help your neighbors run errands and shovel snow. You’ll get a warm glow from both the helping out and the exercise, and you’ll feel so much better than sitting all afternoon watching “White Christmas” reruns.
7. Escape
And if all else fails, next year book a ski vacation for your Christmas vacation instead of staying at home. There’s a whole year to save (and to beat the lines when you tell your family you’re leaving next year!) Skiing is fantastic exercise and you’ll come back fit, invigorated and without those extra pounds so many seem to pack on at Christmas .
Copyright 2005, Janice Elizabeth Small