The holiday season is a packed time of year complete with shopping, cooking, social gatherings and more. But the “hustle and bustle” isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be. Sometimes, it can be difficult to stay on-track in other areas of your life including weight management.
So far this month, we’ve talked a lot about managing your weight during the holidays by focusing on healthy eating strategies. But what about exercise and fitness? You may be asking yourself, “What?! When do I have time to think about exercise with my packed schedule?” And that’s normal. We totally get it.
But when you veer off-track, tackling your weight goals after the holidays can be even tougher. Plus – there ARE ways to squeeze fitness into your holiday schedule; it just takes a little bit of planning!
Exercise and the Holidays – How Can I Do it?
You aren’t required to be a super human to stay active and healthy during the holiday season. Check out these tips for incorporating fitness into your schedule.
- Shop with the Intent of Moving – Still have some gift finding to do? Make sure you cover all areas of the store or shopping center. You can even walk around the perimeter of the store a few times as well. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes!
- Park at the Back of the Lot – Whether it’s a retail or grocery store, try parking at the back of the parking lot so you have to cover a larger walking distance.
- Experience the Outdoors – It’s so much cooler this time of year! Go outside to play in the snow, ride your bike if you’re able, or simply walk outside for some fresh air.
- Return Your Grocery Cart to the Store – Don’t just leave your cart in the parking lot. Take it back to the store so you have some extra walking to do!
- Walk to See Holiday Lights – Whether it’s your own neighborhood or a neighborhood nearby, take your loved ones on a walk to go browse festive holiday lights.
- Work out in the Mornings – Our days tend to get busier as time goes on. Try squeezing a short workout in after you wake up so you don’t have to worry about exercising later.
- Get Active during Social Gatherings – Are you getting together with friends/family/co-workers during the holiday season? Instead of making food the center of attention, why not try a fun physical activity such as bowling, skating or outdoor games?
As the New Year approaches, you’ll be glad you took the time to make exercise a priority this month. We wish you happy and healthy holidays!
For more healthy holiday tips, please CLICK HERE.
