What’s not to love about the holidays? You get to spend time with family and friends, enjoy cozy fires, eat decadent foods and an array of sweet treats…but that often comes at the cost of regular exercise. Often, we leave the holiday season with a lot of guilt and some extra pounds or inches on our waistline.
The trainers at ICWANM have some great ideas to stay active this winter.
To stay active this winter, you need to be ready to be active this winter. So, the first step to getting (unscheduled) exercise this holiday season is to wear comfortable shoes everywhere you go. This will make you much more likely to do what we suggest next…
Use your holiday shopping excursions as a chance to put in some extra distance. Instead of circling the parking lot looking for the closest space, park as far as you can from the door. Once you get into the store, do a lap around all the aisles or levels before you start your shopping. From the time you leave your car and come back again, you could easily accumulate the equivalent of a mile or more walking! Way to go you!
Opt for the stairs instead of elevator or escalator. It’s amazing how a few steps can elevate your heart rate!
If you are travelling for the holidays take some time to find out where you can work out. Perhaps there is a nearby park with a walking/jogging trail. Maybe your gym membership offers some reciprocal benefits with other health care facilities out of town. Your hotel may have a workout room, too. You’ll only know if you take a few minutes to do a little bit of Internet or phone research.
Staying active during the holiday season does not require adding more hours to the day. Simply take advantage of the little opportunities to add some steps, bump up your heart rate and get some weight resistance.
