How do you expect me to keep fit during the holidays?
Just do it! It’s that simple and that’s how!
I know it’s hard enough to fit into an exercise program when you have nothing better to do on a normal day, then when you add the holidays, your fitness priorities go right to the bottom of the list. Heck, I’d go as far as to say that he leaves most people’s list together, even if he was on it.
So let’s just say that staying healthy and fit over the holidays is on your priority list. First, just to be clear that we don’t want to add more stress to the already hectic holiday season by trying to maintain your regular exercise schedule. However, it’s important to stay active, not just for your health, but also for your sanity. Being active during the holiday season will give you more energy, help reduce stress, and help offset some of the extra calories you’ll consume.
So what are you going to need for you to find that balance? Well, I’ve put together some helpful tips for your happy vacation exercise pleasure! j
TIP #1 Prepare yourself!
Hey, it’s the number one tip for a reason! This is the most important thing. Be sure to plan any trip you are going to take. Remember, you don’t want this to be extra stress and we all know what happens when we’re not ready for something. Check the area where you will be to see if there are any trails or parks where you can walk or run. Use the internet, it’s an amazing tool and you can find anything there!
Look up listings for local gyms. Give them a call and arrive at vacation hours and plan your workouts before you even leave. Don’t make the mistake of saying “Oh… I’ll squeeze it in somewhere!” This is your health, it is just as important as anything else you are doing. Oh…and there’s no reason to feel guilty about taking care of yourself, either, so that’s not an excuse! j
Stay in a hotel? Give them a call to see what kind of gym they have. Most hotels now have fitness centers in them. They may not be as good as your gym, but remember that the key is to stay active. It doesn’t have to be the Taj Mahal of gyms (is that how you spell that?)!
TIP #2 Use your body!
When was the last time you did a high intensity bodyweight workout? That’s right, body weight! People everywhere seem to forget about these exercises, but they still produce phenomenal results, not to mention great to perform!
Here’s a take-along bodyweight circuit! Pushups, overhead squats (just holding your hands above your head, if you want to hold onto something to add weight, that’s great) Toe touches (lie on your back with your feet straight in the air, reach and touch your toes while contracting your abs). Do each of these to failure moving from one exercise to the next with little to no rest for 5 sets. You will exercise!
TIP #3 Get out of your head!
Yes, that’s right, get out of your head. You’ll find a million reasons why you can’t exercise on vacation if you want to. The key is to make the decision and just do it! It’s your health, it’s important, it’s okay! What will really come down to it is how willing you are and whether your health is important enough to YOU.
There are all kinds of exercises from using bands, lunges, squats, push ups, crunches in front of the TV and the list goes on and on. How about volunteering to shovel snow, rake some leaves, play with the kids, or just jog or walk every day?
Happy holidays to you!