Exercise at Christmas Without the Gym
by Janice
Elizabeth Small
zone3
7 great tips to keep up your fitness levels when getting to the gym
is a problem over Christmas.
Gyms get pretty deserted around Christmas time. Everyone is so busy
with preparations, parties and people visiting that it's hard to fit in
getting there, getting changed and going through a routine as regularly as
you might the rest of the year.
But don't give up on exercise completely - you'll find it far harder to
get back in the swing of things if you do. Make exercise part of the fun
and keep yourself ticking over until it's time to get back to the gym in
January. Maybe you'll enjoy the alternatives so much you'll never go
back!
1. Do less
Just do ten minutes if that's all you can manage. Ten minutes of
anything - walking around the house or stair stepping or skipping or
rebounding - anything that fits your level of fitness and the equipment
you have available at home. You can do it in the morning before your
shower and it will energise you for everything you have to get done. If
you can fit in 10 minutes later on too, so much the better. You'll keep up
your fitness levels and use a few calories which you can probably do with
at this time of year.
2. Do a class at home
Fitness videos are great if you don't have much time. There's no
getting to the gym - you have everything you need right at home. You can
pick them up for next to nothing from charity shops or treat yourself to
one or two for Christmas. And it doesn't matter if you don't know the
moves or have the latest fitness gear - nobody's watching!
3. Clear Up
No doubt you have to get your home ready for friends and family
visiting anyway so make the clear up a workout. Put lots of energy into
it! Clear out all that clutter then clean, vacuum and polish everything
until it gleams. You'll be ready for guests, keep up your fitness levels
and use some calories all at the same time.
4. Active fun
If you have a lot of guests and can't get your usual exercise fix
organise some active fun for everyone! You could all go bowling or
skating. Or try a game of charades or Twister. If it snows, you can go
sledging or organise a snowman building competition. At the very least get
them all out for a walk every day whatever the weather. There are sure to
be some lights to go and see or a local carol service to attend.
5. Dance the Night Away
Don't be a wallflower. Take every opportunity to dance at parties (it
will keep you away from the buffet table too) or just invite your partner
to go dancing over the holidays. You'll have fun, get closer and it'll be
great exercise. Dancing uses up between 270 and 540 calories an hour
depending on the speed.
6. Offer a helping hand
Get active by volunteering your services in your community. You can
help serve lunch at a homeless shelter or old people's home. Or just help
your neighbours with running errands and snow clearing. You'll get a warm
glow from lending a hand as well as from the exercise and feel much better
than you do after sitting around all afternoon watching the re-runs of
"White Christmas".
7. Escape
And if all else fails, next year book a skiing holiday for your
Christmas break instead of staying at home. There's a whole year to save
up (and to dodge the rows when you tell your family you're going away next
year!) Skiing is fantastic exercise and you'll come back fit, invigorated
and without those extra few pounds so many seem to acquire over Christmas.
Copyright 2006,
Janice Elizabeth Small
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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