The holiday season can be a difficult time to remain in peak physical fitness. It's easy to overeat, binge on unhealthy snacks, and completely neglect your workouts. If you're looking for some fun Christmas workouts, click here before finishing this post. But if you do not want to bust out a holiday workout, here are some playful tips on how to stay fit and healthy this holiday season:
Engage with Your Younger Family Members
Nothing helps burn the calories faster than trying to keep up with a rambunctious toddler. I swear, the younger the child, the better they embody the Energizer Bunny. They keep on going, and going, and going, and going. Playing an exciting game of Tiggy or What's the Time Mr Wolf will get the heart pumping.
Don't have younger kiddos in the family? Convince the family to join in a game of touch football or any other sport. No matter the weather (unless it's raining fire), it's always fun playing some kind of sport with your family. At the very least, you'll be able to tackle out any built up anger you have towards your family members.
Spontaneous Dance Parties
These are always a winner any time of year, but Christmas makes them slightly more socially acceptable. Turn up the Christmas music extra loud and dance till you're little heart is content!
Feeling extra inspired? Gather a group of friends or family members and choreograph your very own Christmas dance. Perform it for the family or record it and shamelessly share it on the internet. You'll eventually look back, laugh, and cherish these Christmas moments.
Christmas Workouts
I know I already made an entire post about holiday workouts, but they're a fantastic, quick way to burn a few extra calories. Do you have a competitive family? Turn the workouts into a competition. During the HIIT workouts, see who can do the most reps in the allotted time. On the 12 Days of Christmas Workout, see who can get through the ladder the fastest, with the best form. Your body will thank you later!
Be Mindful of What You're Eating
It is so easy to overeat during the holidays. If you've ever looked at most US families Christmas dinner, you're looking at a table of butter. The amount of butter that ends up in all the dishes is mind-boggling. It is very easy to quickly consume a high amount of calories. So how do you enjoy your favourite holiday foods without eating a year's worth of calories?
First, portion control. Unlike the workout and sports suggestion, who can eat the most is NOT a competition you should partake in. You are more than welcome to eat whatever you would like just be mindful of the portion size.
Second, you can always opt for healthier options. Instead of loading up on high carb, high starch foods, make a majority of your plate roast veggies. Still eat the more savoury dishes, just limit the amount you do. Gravy has an insane amount of calories. Instead of slathering your entire meal in it, place a small amount in a small bowl and use sparingly (or not at all). You'll be less likely to end up in a food coma and won't have a massive sugar crash the next day!
Stay Happy and Positive
During the holidays, it is inevitable that there will be some mishaps. People are bound to disagree, the turkey may catch on fire, and you may end up spending the holidays alone. That's ok. Don't focus on the negative. Keep yourself in a happy, healthy mindset.
If a problem does occur, think about the things you can do to fix the situation. If there are no options, let it go and move on! Is the problem a little more complicated? Use some of the strategies mentioned in How to Cope with Holiday Stress to help you get back in the holiday spirit!
Most importantly, enjoy this time. It may be the only time of year all your friends and family get together. Treasure this. Be silly. Laugh. Make some precious memories.
And until next time...
Stay curious!
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