Regardless of your plans this holiday season, don’t forget to make time for your fitness routine. Here are seven ways you can incorporate exercise into your holiday plans.
Get a Partner
It is a lot easier to stay motivated and follow through on a commitment when there is someone to hold you accountable. Find someone to be your workout partner and have them encourage you to remain committed to your fitness routine.
Go for a Walk
One of the best things about walking to stay in shape is that you can squeeze it in at any time. It doesn’t matter if you take a 10 minute walk or a 30 minute walk, walking is a great way to release some holiday stress, recharge your spirits, and burn a few calories after eating all of that festive holiday food.
Hire a Personal Trainer
If you find that you are having trouble establishing a fitness routine or need some instruction, consider hiring a personal trainer. This fitness guru can help you to develop a routine that will strengthen and tone your body, target your trouble areas, and coach and motivate you to stick to your fitness goals this holiday season.
Dancing
If you feel that your workout is lacking some fun and rhythm, why not add a beat to it? Dancing is a great way for you to burn those extra holiday calories, learn a new dance move, and add some excitement back into your daily routine. Check with your local gym or fitness club to find out what dance classes they have available.
Workout at Home
Don’t let the cold temperatures and snow stop you from working out. You can turn any room of your home into your workout space. Do a few squats while you are washing the dishes or run up and down the stairs a few times before you hop into the shower to burn some of those extra calories.
Go for a Jog
Spend a little time outside and enjoy some of the fresh holiday air by going for a jog. The longer you spend outside jogging, the better your cardio rate and spirits will be. Make sure to dress in layers before going for a jog to minimize your risk of sweating while running.
Early or Late
If you are having trouble finding time to work out, try to fit it in right before you go to bed in the evening or as soon as you get up in the morning. Either way, your workout will not interfere with any of your other activities.
Working out during the holidays doesn’t have to be a solo project. Get your family involved and no one will have a reason to feel or look guilty about all of the holiday eating they will be doing over the holidays.
These are really great tips. My son and I have become workout partners. We hold each other accountable every day.
Well, not sure if I left a comment so I’ll do it again if not. Partners are hard to come by if you’re retired, and your friends aren’t. People I know live to far that doesn’t work. So I’ve been trying to make friends at my health club. Nice Post & very informative.
I really need to find time to work out next year. I have baby joggers for my three boys so we should be able to get out and have a run!
My daughter will probably drag me running or to the gym with her. It’s usually more fun to work out with a partner.
My hubby is getting ready to get into hiking. This is a great review for him. Thanks
Thanks so much for these great tips. I miss jogging and often times my legs feel the need to run but post op failed back surgery, my running days are over. I do what I can indoors but that’s not a lot.
I love the get a partner tip. That is one thing I really need to do. Someone to get me motivated and keep me on track.
These are all great reminders. I detest to exercise, but force myself to take daily walks 🙁
I’ve been trying to work out more at home, but I know I would do so much better with a partner. I’ve had 2 workout buddies in the past – 1 that I always wanted me to wait for her because she could not keep up and would get frustrated…and the other I couldn’t keep up with to save my life…thanks for the great suggestions!
I miss my workout partner. She’s in another state now, so I just run on the treadmill at home. It was more motivating//fun to go to the gym
Its always nice to have someone to motivate you; it helps a lot!
These are great tips. I love going for walks in the colder months and having a friend with you just makes the walk far more fun.
These are awesome tips. It’s so easy for fitness and exercise routines to get lost in the holiday shuffle.
I have a friend that just moved in next door to me. Our plan is to start exercising together. I need the help to be motivated.
This is definitely the perfect time for a nightly walk here in south Florida! The Christmas lights are insane and make the trip around my neighborhood with the dogs a whole lot more fun 🙂
I absolutely love these ideas for working out! Sometimes working out isn’t too fun, but these are great ideas to mix it up!
An accountability partner really helps! These are awesome tips.
These are great tips! I could take my dog with me when i go for walks
I work out 5 days a week, it’s ‘my time’ where I listen to podcasts while I walk and then join a group class for social and fun hour. 🙂 I LOVE group classes and the more regular you are the more people you get to know. Plus it allows me to eat this piece of cake that I’m having as I’m writing this. 🙂
Having a partner can be really helpful to many people. I think its really important to have some one that is at your same fitness level when it comes to partners. I have found that when I workout with some people I end up getting less of a workout because I have to try to workout on their level.