Keeping Fit Throughout the Holidays
By Brandi Goodman
The holidays are often a busy time spent decorating, wrapping, shopping, and otherwise being indoors. Though some of these can count as exercise if you do them right, most of what you do throughout the holiday season isn't enough to count as truly working out. You want to keep fit throughout the holidays so those extra calories you're eating don't add on more weight than you need. Fitness is also part of overall health.
Plan Family Fitness Time
Much of the holidays are spent with family and friends. Plan a family fitness time that gets everyone up and moving. If you all plan on being together on Thanksgiving, for example, set up a game of touch football. You can even do a holiday-related scavenger hunt for the younger ones. Setting up times to exercise together in a fun way can ensure everybody spends some time up and moving and not just sitting around all season.
Try Downtown Shopping
Shopping is the one thing on the holiday to-do list that can count as exercise. Instead of staying in just one store to buy all your gifts, try downtown shopping. You can get more walking in if you're going from one building to the next looking for the perfect gift for each person on your list.
Schedule Exercise Time
It can be tough to find time to fit in exercise. Schedule it. Just as you would anything else important you need to get done, schedule time to work out so you can be sure you have the time. Even a 10-minute home workout is beneficial for your body. Try to shoot for 30 minutes per day though.
Walk to See Christmas Lights
Lots of people get in their cars and drive through neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights. It's a fun thing to do in the evening that can help drum up some holiday spirit. Sitting in your car may keep you out of the cold but it isn't doing any favors for your body. Walk around your neighborhood to look at Christmas lights so you're getting exercise in as well.
Try these fitness options throughout the holiday months and help yourself maintain your health. Remaining sedentary all season long will not do your body any favors. You need to get up and move whenever possible and come up with creative ways to stay fit during the holiday season.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Tucson, Ariz.