Keeping Fit During the Holiday Season

It's that time of year... When the cold nips at your nose but the warmth of the holidays begins. Instead of being active outside (unless you live down south!), most spend their days in the cozy, comfortableness of the home. With the holidays also comes food. Thanksgiving is a time to eat and watch football and the whole month of December is about candy canes, cookies, gourmet appetizers and cheese balls. While you should enjoy every minute possible with family and friends, it's also important to consider how you're caring for your body during this holiday season.



I find it humorous that after two months of eating and drinking, New Years resolutions roll in. Most of the time, there is one word on everyone's list that no one likes to say aloud.... the GYM. On cue, the gyms are packed at the start of the year. People trying to knock off holiday pounds or attempting to turn over a new leaf. For some, working out may seem hard to stick by, especially throughout the holiday season of hustle and bustle.

Here are a few tips to keep yourself feeling well through this season. And to help you stay motivated to feel great when you slip on that sparkly New Years dress you've been saving.




1. Moderation

While you shouldn't completely withhold from the holiday goodies, work hard to not overindulge. Be careful not to nit pick at the trays of food. Instead, fill your plate with veggies, salad or fruit before going for anything else. This way, you'll fill up on the good stuff but leave a little room for a treat or two. Also, drink one glass of water for each alcoholic beverage you consume. This will fill you up faster so that you aren't consuming unnecessary calories.

2. Get to the Gym

Even if it is once or twice a week, keeping up your routine will help maintain it enough that it won't be shot after the holidays. Find a workout buddy or write your gym days on a calendar to hold yourself accountable. Getting in some gym time will help you feel great and will help you to be more conscious about eating well at each of your Thanksgiving or Christmas parties.

3. Shorten your Cardio

It may be tempting to ditch your workout but you can still get great results, even if you don't have ample amounts of time. Here's some good news: women who work out at high-intensity interval training three days a week for 20 minutes lose more weight than those who exercise for 40 minutes at lower intensity. Another benefit? Small doses of regular exercise helps reduce stress.

Women's Health is continually a beacon for great workout routines. Read more to learn some at home or at the gym workouts for the holiday season!