6 Christmas Exercise Ideas
December 16, 2008 by Tom
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As I have been discussing in some of my previous articles Christmas is a difficult time when it comes to fitness. Tempting foods are all around, the weather is generally poor and common colds and the flu are increasingly common. This makes it very difficult to maintain an exercise routine over Christmas. However, if you make proper plans then you should be able to maintain a proper exercise routine. In this article I will be providing you with 6 top tips for maintaining an exercise routine over Christmas.
1) EXERCISE IN THE GYM:- I personally exercise in the gym so this one is not a change for me. However, if you normally exercise outside you may wish to switch to the gym over the festive period. Whether the gym is your first choice location for working out or not it is bright and warm. Compare this to the outdoors which are generally cold and dark and you can see why the gym is probably the best exercise location for the festive period.
2) EXERCISE IN THE MORNING:- Christmas brings with it social gatherings most of which occur in the evenings. Therefore, you may not get to exercise as much because you are busy socialising. If this is the case then you may have to exercise in the morning over the festive period. You may not like getting out of bed extra early but it may be the only way to fit it in during your busy Christmas schedule.
3) GET AN EXERCISE DVD:- If you normally exercise outside and can’t face the weather but you also can’t stand working out in a gym then an exercise DVD could be the solution. Exercise DVDs are becoming increasingly popular and there are now DVDs available which cater to a number of needs including dance workouts, yoga workouts and bodyweight workouts. You can check out Amazon’s entire range of fitness DVDs by clicking here or have a browse of the selection I have included below. Not only will these DVDs help you stay fit and healthy over the festive period but they also could be the perfect Christmas present for you, a friend or a family member.
4) GET WII FIT:- I’ve only tried Wii fit once at a friend’s house but it’s great fun and an excellent alternative to exercise DVDs for the gamers out there. It has a range of types of training you can choose including balance, strength and stamina. Plus, it has a multi-player option meaning the whole family can join in. This would make it a great present to get out after the Christmas dinner because it will incorporate all the guests and also allow you all to get some exercise and burn some calories.
5) BE INNOVATIVE:- Despite your best intentions the holidays are extremely busy and you simply may not have the time to fit in a full workout. If this is the case you are going to have to be innovative and make exercise part of other tasks. Try parking your car a bit further away from work or the shops when you do your Christmas shopping, go for a brisk walk during your lunch hour or do a few quick bodyweight exercises when you find yourself with a spare few minutes. Consistency is one of the keys to a successful exercise routine and every little bit you do will help.
6) TRY AND STICK TO A HEALTHY DIET:- Christmas is a time when we are increasingly susceptible to the common cold and the flu. On top of this we are more likely to feel down around Christmas time. Both of these factors are likely to lower our motivation to exercise. If you eat a poor diet too your motivation to exercise is going to be even lower. I know it’s tough to stick to a perfect diet over Christmas and you will undoubtedly eat some junk foods. However, if you plan to eat healthily when you can your motivation to exercise is going to be much higher. Try to incorporate some of these mood foods and these immune system boosting foods into your diet and you are much more likely to have the motivation needed to perform your Christmas workouts.
Most of us will have worked hard to maintain an exercise routine throughout the year so it would be a shame to let it all go over Christmas. Yes it is a difficult time of the year in terms of exercise and yes you want to have some time to relax. Even if you don’t do as much exercise as you normally do make sure you do some over the festive period. By doing this you will be in a much better fitness position when the New Year comes around.
How are you guys planning to fit exercise in this Christmas? Have you got any additional tips you would like to share? If so please leave a comment on this post.
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All my plans have gone to pot as I have tonsillitis…..boohooo! But I had every intention of going with your morning workouts so at least I’m doing something most days even if I’m socialising in the evening.
oh! I hired a treadmill/elliptical ages ago, so not particularly festive but a temporary fixture in the cold weather. Should anyone not realise that these machines are available for hire I thought I’d mention it.
ATB
Tusc
As I said Tusc, winter does not seem to be your season. Thanks for the heads up on the treadmills. I’m sure some of my readers will benefit from this advice. However, for now I will have to continue to use the treadmills at the gym. I don’t think my flatmates would appreciate the noise of me pounding away on my treadmill.
Nah, I love the winter. I just wished I hadn’t kissed so many people under the mistletoe last weekend!! I had no idea tonsillitis was so contagious!! I should be back to normal by Friday, just in time for another xmas doo!
I’m looking forward to getting back to my exercises. I must admit, after a few days off I’m feeling sluggish.
You have a very valid point regarding the treadmill noise. My neighbours (below me) complained about the vibration, so I had to move it to a less central room. And then I swapped it for an elliptical. I prefer the treadmill tho. Which do you prefer?
tusc
Tom, you better believe I’m gonna be exercising in the morning more! This is a key for me this time of the year as it refreshes my outlook on working out when I get to go at a different time than normal.
Tusc… you’ve got tonsillitis??? Oh man, I’m sorry to hear that. I hope you feel better soon!
All the Best,
Andrew R
Oh… I love how you mentioned the Wii Fit. I’m a gym man myself, no change their for me.
I’m a big supporter of the Wii Fit for those individuals who need something more than just exercises to do.
Happy Holidays my friend.
Thanks Andrew, feeling much better today
Niiiiiiiiiiiiice torso, man above!
Ahem! lol
Andrew – I still manage to fit my workouts in during the evenings even during this busy period. I generally get up early to work on this blog but I prefer to workout in the evenings where I can. It’s a bit warmer which makes it a lot more bearable.
Strong One – Totally agree. I’m a gym man too but for those gamers who spend a lot of their time sitting down on their consoles and don’t do much exercise it’s a very healthy, active alternative that allows them to continue with their hobby.
Tusc – I know what you mean about feeling sluggish. I’ve took this week off the gym as I was feeling really burned out last week. I’m starting to feel sluggish already but I think I need the rest. As for your question the treadmill is definitely my favourite cardio machine. I find it much more challenging and love to try and beat my previous running time/distance every time I go on it. Hope you feel better soon. Just watch who you kiss this Friday
Thanks for all your comment guys.
Hi Tom
For me it all comes down to priorities. I think this is the time when most people’s priorities get all out of whack. And I mean that where not just health in concerned, but money, emotions, tasks, etc.
We get so taken over as if in a trance by the holidays that we seem to let go of all the still very necessary things that make us live out the best lives we can.
One huge factor that people do not realize is WHY common viral infections are SO common now. It is not just the “cold” like many old wives tales point to. The only thing the cold temps do is make our body have to work harder to maintain its balanced temperature. Cold temps in no way give us colds or flus, etc. These germs are passed around from person to person constantly, so why do we catch them more during the winter?
For many reasons, one of course the cold putting more stress on the body, but that is a TINY reason compared to the others.
The strongest reason for our decreased immunity is how badly we beat up the body starting probably around Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and then it is downhill from there. The increased sweets, the increased food, the increased alcohol, the decreased sleep, the increased stress….need I go on.
Many people just do not realize that as long as they are going to be partaking in those actions then sickness at this time is unfortunately to be expected.
So I love your points about exercise, as that is one of the best ways to try to offset all the damage that most do to their systems at this time.
Now if we can only get everyone to do it