Holiday fitness
B.S. /Hons
You are busy, you are stressed! So why not just take a break from your fitness program until the New Year?
Sure, you can always come up with an excuse not to exercise. Slacking off on your fitness program during the holidays will only leave you with more pounds and more stress come New Year's. Fitness experts recognize that this time of year is difficult for many people trying to stick to an exercise program, so I have some suggestions to keep you motivated and disciplined.
The first step, is acknowledging the holidays probably will affect your exercise program to some extent. Then you can make adjustments that will help you stay fit during the season. For example, if you usually take exercise classes only offered at a certain time, skip the classes and take a hike or a swim at an indoor pool instead especially at The Club Port Baku. Take an honest look at your schedule, and instead of trying to squeeze exercise into your schedule. "I believe the goal is not to do more (as we all have a tendency to do this time of year), but to do less, but do it all well."
Indeed, maintaining a workout schedule is even more important this time of year because most of us tend to eat more than usual!
Be Flexible and Mix It Up
Be flexible when your days get busy. Instead of simply blowing off your 5 p.m. trip to the gym in favor of an office party at the same time, wake up an hour early and walk or jog before work. Or fit a brisk walk into your lunch hour. Mix up your routine to avoid boredom. "If you usually run four days a week, try running once, swimming once, and lifting weights twice." The novelty of the new exercise will hopefully be a stronger motivator than the 'need' to do something else during your normal exercise time."
To save time, combining exercising and family commitments is best. For example, hauling the kids up a hill a few times can make a sledding trip as beneficial as a jog. Taking the family snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or on a backpacking trip will provide exercise as well as quality time with loved ones.
I recommend creating a home workout routine for those times you can't make it to the gym. Crunches, push-ups, and many other exercises can be done without any gym equipment. Increase your time management skills over the holiday season. Organize your day the evening before. Prioritizing your tasks beforehand will help you find time to exercise. Each week, make it a priority to fit in three exercise sessions. Walking is an exercise that can go anywhere, from the woods to the mall. Always have a pair of running or walking shoes with you.
Make it happen!!