With less than three weeks until Christmas you have two choices: A.) Give up on your regular exercise routine or B.) Stay the course and enter 2009 ahead of your New Year’s resolutions.
You’re busy, you’re stressed, and it’s freezing outside… so why not go with B and take a break from your exercise routine until after New Year’s Day?
Two words: Unwanted POUNDS.
While it’s easy to put your fitness regime on the back burner during the holiday season, by slacking off now you’ll find it will be harder to get back on track once 2009 rolls around.
Think about it; how many of us can resist mom’s special Christmas cookies or Aunt Mary’s yummy holiday pie? By abandoning your daily workouts you risk packing on the pounds, which leads to more stress, which begets more eating, which translates to more unwanted calories.
So, how can you avoid this domino effect?
Fitness experts suggest you first acknowledge that the holidays will likely affect your exercise program to some extent. Once you have moved past the denial stage you can adjust your schedule accordingly. For example, if you usually take aerobics class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, skip the classes and take a walk or swim at an indoor pool on a day that is more convenient for you. Just be sure to schedule time into your day for exercise.
Another tip: Be flexible. During the holidays we tend to cram in a ton of activities in a single day. If you can’t make your regular 5 p.m. trip to the gym because you have to attend an office party, then wake up an hour early and get in a jog before work. Or fit in a brisk walk during your lunch hour.
Finally, avoid getting stuck in a rut. If you are bored with your fitness routine, then you’ll be more likely to make excuses to skip working out. Mix things up a bit. For instance, if you usually run four days a week, try running one day and swimming on another. Or lift weights one day and play tennis on another. The novelty of the new exercise will hopefully motivate you to keep moving during and after the busy holiday season.
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