‘Tis the season to be merry… a great time of year for many reasons, but Christmas certainly provides a challenge to our regular fitness routines.
The holiday season is filled with pros and cons when it comes to our health and fitness. Work might be slowing down, longer summer evenings, social occasions aplenty, cars that need to be packed for the road trip, and someone has to order the turkey!
Although this time of year means a well-deserved break for many of us, it’s can also be an interruption to our normal routine, and can easily mean that our fitness goals end up on the naughty list!
So to help you have a Merry Fit-mas, here are our EP team’s top tips to help you ‘sleigh’ your fitness goals this season (sorry – no more puns!)
- The Early Bird gets the worm…
Did you know that the sun is currently rising at roughly 5:30am? Which means there are plenty of opportunities to get your exercise out of the way before the day begins! A brisk 30-minute walk or a simple bodyweight circuit at home can help boost your energy levels and create a jolly feeling for the rest of the day.
- Time Poor?
So you’ve woken up early to get your exercise done, but you only have 20-minutes before you have to start peeling the prawns – what do you do?
Focus on increasing the intensity rather than trying to fit too much in – I suggest selecting 3 to 4 big movements (like squats, lunges, push-ups, or mountain climbers) and aim to do each of them in a time-based circuit, rather than counting repetitions and sets. For example, do each of the exercises I mentioned above for 30-seconds, followed by a 30-second rest. Repeat the circuit 5 times and you’ve just completed a 20-minute workout!
- What are Friends for?
When we exercise with friends or family, it not only means its more enjoyable, but you now have some accountability built in which can help keep each other motivated and avoid the pitfalls of one-too-many gingerbread men…
- Move between Bites!
One of the bigger challenges with the holiday season is the amount of sit-down meals. For some, it can mean three to four days straight of visiting family and friends for lunch and dinner, and they are usually big meals! So if you’re hosting an event, try a cocktail lunch or dinner – set-up a table of food, and let your guests engage with each other by walking around. It’s a great way to reduce the amount of sitting. Then when the eating is done, move on to the next top tip…
- Hit ‘em for 6!
Try and engage in some fun activities over the Christmas period! The classic Australian pastime of Backyard Cricket gets everyone up and running around! Not a big sports fan? Head down to the beach for a swim instead.
See here for some of Sarah's tips from a previous season.
But above everything else, make sure you enjoy the festive season! If you feel like the Grinch these holidays, leave a comment below or give us a call at the clinic and we’ll be happy to help!
