Keep Moving Through the Holidays
We already know that we’re going to be indulging in all kinds of goodies over Thanksgiving this year. And then there are the upcoming holiday parties and Christmas dinner and candy and baked goods and all the tastes and treats that come with the season. Let’s not kid ourselves, right?
There are plenty of healthy swaps you can make during the holidays, but there are probably some things that, while they might not be the best for you, are oh-so-delicious. On average, Americans gain a couple of pounds over the holidays. That might not sound like too much, but the eating habits from the Thanksgiving table onward can creep into the coming year and send the scale even higher. So what’s the solution?
This time of year is wildly busy for most of us. From the shopping to the cooking to the end-of-year responsibilities at work to school events and beyond, it can feel like you’re always on the move. All of those errands and chores and events might not actually be bringing as much movement to your body as you think. It’s all too easy this time of year to let exercise routines fall by the wayside as you’re trying to keep up with the whirl on the calendar. But there’s also plenty of sitting; sitting through the school holiday play, sitting through the company party, sitting through football games and Christmas movies and sitting on the floor while wrapping all those gifts.
This year, what if you focused on making the holidays more active? Not pushing more activities into the calendar, but getting more movement throughout the season…
🧣 Bundle up and walk through your neighborhood this year, instead of driving through to look at the lights.
🎄Look for holiday walking trails at your local park where you can stroll in the cold and take in the sights.
🦃 Start your Thanksgiving morning with a family fun run.
🥾 Make a day-after-Thanksgiving hike your new tradition this year. Find a trail a few miles away, hit the trail in the morning, and then head back to the house to start hauling out the Christmas decor.
🫣 Play a family game of hide and seek or tag instead of sitting for several hours during a board game.
🙆🏽♂️ Take cardio breaks during the commercials of the football games. Jump up, get some jumping jacks and high knees in.
⌚Track your steps throughout the season. Consider setting a goal for yourself for the holidays and see how many steps you can get in before Santa Claus comes.
Fitness coaches have started advising people to not just think of your workout time as only the time you spend in the gym. It’s possible to be very disciplined about your gym workouts but to still be pretty sedentary the rest of the day. It may take some creativity and some activated intention, but it is possible to keep your body moving through this most wonderful time of the year. At the very least, you might just be able to indulge in all your favorite dishes and treats and not see any kind of creeping up of the scale. It’s a way to be a little naughty with your nutrition and still a little nice to your muscles, bones, joints, and heart as you make some moves every day of the holidays!
“No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everybody on the couch.”
– Unknown
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