John KIRAGU
- Nov 24, 2022
- 4 min read

How to keep fit during Christmas and not miss out on the pies

"During Christmas holidays, the tendency to consume a lot of sugar, to wake up late, to consume more alcohol than usual, and to be in fun moods may have a negative effect on the body's wellbeing."

Photo by Nicole Michalou on Unsplash

Practicing yoga, HIIT exercise, walking, drinking a lot of water, eating sensibly, dancing, and breathing workouts are accessible, powerful, empowering, and incredible ways for shifting negative emotions, burning stress, and changing the mental state. Incorporating vegetables and fruits is an effective way to compensate for festive indulgences. Natural foods rich in minerals, fiber, nutrients, and free fatty acids are vital for a healthy gut, skin, and overall wellbeing. Here are some suggestions for staying fit during the Christmas holiday season.

Exercise

Exercise is the best way to keep the body fit over the holidays. During Christmas, it is essential to maintain your fitness routine by engaging in low-intensity but sustainable workouts such as walking, half an hour of yoga during weekends, a 15-minute blast of HIIT to keep the body in an exercising mood, swimming, and setting realistic goals with plenty of time in your fitness regime to rest and enjoy the company of friends and family.

Incorporating variable intensity interval training (VIIT) is vital for targeting all the body's muscles and energy systems. It also facilitates endurance and improves body strength while burning more calories.

You can also practice a high-intensity workout by using resistance bands and gliders, which help you burn calories and sweat. Gliders are vital for the muscles, both concentrically and eccentrically, while bands provide a full-body workout and resistance to moves.

Stay hydrated

Consuming enough fluids during Christmas helps to maintain your body performance and concentration, prevent excess elevation in body temperature and heart rate, and increase your endurance. Water consumption can also satiate your appetite and help reduce a possible hangover if you have consumed too much alcohol. Intake of water is also essential for various processes in the body, such as lubricating your eyes, muscles, and joints. You can also alternate an alcoholic drink with a glass of water and drink wisely.

Stay active

You can still keep your body fit during Christmas by keeping your training routine booked in as usual. But if you are unable to do that, make sure you try to get more incidental workouts such as walking instead of driving, packing the car further from the store, introducing morning runs, doing gardening, carrying your groceries, using the stairs, and training at home with friends and family. Essentially, incidental exercises and living an active life really help to keep your body fit and healthy during the Christmas season.

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Avoid skipping meals

Might come as a surprise but don’t be tempted to save up your appetite for the Christmas party food. Skipping your meals will make you overeat later on. Eating healthy meals reduces the likelihood of overindulgence. Eating your breakfast is important as it gives you energy for the day ahead. The intake of fruits, veggies, and whole grains is healthy for the body and helps in maintaining complete body wellbeing. Ensure you consume foods that will provide the body with essential nutrients for strength, mental happiness, health, and minimize snacking.

Pick movements you really enjoy

Exercise does not have to be typical weights or cardio; it can be a brisk dog walk, dancing, or playing around with kids in the garden rather than intense forms of workouts you dread until they are over. These movements will make you enjoy yourself, and you will not find it hard to motivate yourself to do them. As a result, you will burn more calories and limit the risk of weight gain during Christmas.

Set your goals

Keeping up with your fitness routine during the holidays may be difficult. Good planning will help you improve and maintain your body's fitness.

Working out at least 3 times a week with one conditioning session and two weight sessions will allow you to maintain a consistent level of fitness and set realistic goals.

Knowing your workout plan during Christmas will help you stay on track, focused, and be guilt-free. Set a realistic and attainable goal that motivates and encourages you to stay on track.

Say thank you and cheer up

The Christmas season is all about being thankful, loving, spreading good cheer, and caring. Emotional wellness is a major part of physical fitness. Therefore, you can unleash your talents and come up with innovative and creative ways to say "thank you" to all those who made the year memorable.

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Get enough sleep

Getting enough sleep is important not only for overall health but also for weight management. Sleep also helps with hormonal regulation, which controls appetite. It also improves your mood, reduces stress, lowers the risks of serious health problems, and facilitates a healthy weight balance.

Sit less

Breaking up long periods of sitting with a little movement will greatly assist you in staying fit. Sitting at the dinner table, with friends, or at work may not be good for your body's fitness. You can make a commitment to walk as much as possible during the holiday season, as it is far preferable to sitting.

Meditation

Fitness is not all about physical health. Mental health also has priority in achieving total wellness. Consider practicing a short session of meditation and breathing.

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Belly breathing, a stress-reducing skill, is a powerful tool for individuals who react poorly to pressure. A consistent and regular fitness practice improves your metabolism, ensuring that you don’t regret or worry about festive indulgence. The Christmas season is a great time to enjoy delicious drinks and food with friends and family. However, it is vital to maintain body fitness so that you do not feel bloated and sluggish. Ensure you are moving during this festive season to stay happy, fit, and healthy.