How to stay fit at Christmas Time

Christmas is a time for eating rather more than our share of several fatty foods. Whether it’s chocolates in your stocking or sausages wrapped in bacon to accompany your eighth of a gigantic turkey covered in gravy, it would be virtually criminal not to indulge. But you pay for it in the end, and as useful as that tire around your waste doubtlessly is in the winter months (if you happen to be a hibernating mammal), you’ll probably start feeling a little guilty about your dietary habits before you’ve finished polishing off a kilogram of Cadbury’s in-front of this year’s twelfth showing of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’.

Prevention

Of course, the best preventative would be to not indulge in the first place, but that’s not very fun. Nevertheless, be wary of the following:

  • Alcohol is something we could all probably have a little less of, but be aware that there are many calories in the typical pint. Also, if you’re drinking you’re less likely to pay attention to what you’ve been eating anyway!
  • Don’t assume that skipping meals to make room for one big Christmas meal is useful: it often isn’t (especially as you’ll probably end up eating even more thanks to feeling exceptionally hungry!)
  • With that in mind, try to keep to standard meal times and a meal schedule. Have Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
  • Drink plenty of Water! Dehydration is never good for you, but thirst can be easily translated into hunger by the overwhelmed Christmas gut.
  • Avoid forming bad habits for the rest of the year – treat yourself only with those things that are available at Christmas (mince pies, for instance).

Exercising

The degree to which each individual exercises varies wildly, so my attempt to offer a one-size fits all solution will fall slightly flat: some of you just want to watch the waistline, others want to maintain a more intensive routine in a difficult period of time. The guide caters more to the former, but there are plenty of things we can all learn about Christmas exercise:

  • Due to the availability of time and the fact that you’ll simply be more up for it, exercise is best undertaken in the morning. Go out for a run or hit the gym in the morning to get out of people’s hair.
  • If time isn’t available in the morning, always make a point of exercising at least once a day.
  • The types of exercises that are easy to fit in vary at this time of year: walks, runs or a nice bike ride aren’t just easy to start doing, they’re also something you can do when errands need to be achieved to keep Christmas running smoothly.
  • A short (3-5 minute) routine of squats, jacks, jump rope, lunges, crunches and press ups every day should counter a sensibly indulgent holiday diet.
  • One of the best things about the Christmas period is that you can do some collaborative exercise with people you usually wouldn’t get to spend quality time with. If you’re a workout fiend and you have a cousin who likes to do the same, suggest a punishing workout whilst you catch up!
  • Better still, get everyone involved in some light exercise after major meals. By going after each meal, you body is less likely to store the fat.
  • Kids are great recruits at Christmas time for exercise. They’re full of excitement and unspent energy, so get them to use it up by taking a trip to the park.
  • If it’s a White Christmas, go outside. There are precious few opportunities to enjoy such an event!

 

Steph Wood is a copywriter and blogger writing content for JTX Fitness Exercise Equipment, a UK based company who have treadmills for sale alongside other machines.

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Written by: Gayla on December 20, 2011.

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