Gyms get pretty deserted around Christmas time. Everyone is so
busy with preparations, parties and people visiting that it's
hard to fit in getting there, getting changed and going through
a routine as regularly as you might the rest of the year.
But don't give up on exercise completely - you'll find it far
harder to get back in the swing of things if you do. Make
exercise part of the fun and keep yourself ticking over until
it's time to get back to the gym in January. Maybe you'll enjoy
the alternatives so much you'll never go back!
1. Do less
Just do ten minutes if that's all you can manage. Ten minutes of
anything - walking around the house or stair stepping or
skipping or rebounding - anything that fits your level of
fitness and the equipment you have available at home. You can do
it in the morning before your shower and it will energise you
for everything you have to get done. If you can fit in 10
minutes later on too, so much the better. You'll keep up your
fitness levels and use a few calories which you can probably do
with at this time of year.
2. Do a class at home
Fitness videos are great if you don't have much time. There's no
getting to the gym - you have everything you need right at home.
You can pick them up for next to nothing from charity shops or
treat yourself to one or two for Christmas. And it doesn't
matter if you don't know the moves or have the latest fitness
gear - nobody's watching!
3. Clear Up
No doubt you have to get your home ready for friends and family
visiting anyway so make the clear up a workout. Put lots of
energy into it! Clear out all that clutter then clean, vacuum
and polish everything until it gleams. You'll be ready for
guests, keep up your fitness levels and use some calories all at
the same time.
4. Active fun
If you have a lot of guests and can't get your usual exercise
fix organise some active fun for everyone! You could all go
bowling or skating. Or try a game of charades or Twister. If it
snows, you can go sledging or organise a snowman building
competition. At the very least get them all out for a walk every
day whatever the weather. There are sure to be some lights to go
and 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 keep you away from the buffet table too) or
just invite your partner to go dancing over the holidays. You'll
have fun, get closer and it'll be great exercise. Dancing uses
up between 270 and 540 calories an hour depending on the speed.
6. Offer a helping hand
Get active by volunteering your services in your community. You
can help serve lunch at a homeless shelter or old people's home.
Or just help your neighbours with running errands and snow
clearing. You'll get a warm glow from lending a hand as well as
from the exercise and feel much better than you do after sitting
around all afternoon watching the re-runs of "White Christmas".
7. Escape
And if all else fails, next year book a skiing holiday for your
Christmas break instead of staying at home. There's a whole year
to save up (and to dodge the rows when you tell your family
you're going away next year!) Skiing is fantastic exercise and
you'll come back fit, invigorated and without those extra few
pounds so many seem to acquire over Christmas.
Copyright 2005, Janice Elizabeth Small
About the author:
Janice Elizabeth is a weight loss coach and author of "The Diet
Exit Plan", the system that promotes permanent healthy and
AUTOMATIC weight loss through making small changes to your
everyday habits. Visit
http://www.SimplySlimming.com/Christmas
today to get the Simply Slimming FREE ezine full of tips and
recipes and a 24 page special report "How to have a Great
Christmas without piling on the pounds".
