It’s tough to stay active during the holidays, so here are some fitness strategies to keep you moving this December!
We’re currently in the six weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, which means it’s officially the holiday season!
The most wonderful time of the year is typically full of baked goods and sugary foods as we gather with friends, family and coworkers for parties and luncheons, and although this is always fun, it can sometimes be tough when it comes to staying in shape.
Staying physically active during the holidays can be easier said than done, and all of us at Rising Legends want to help you burn off extra calories and maintain your energy levels this December.
This is why we’ve developed the below list of 7 fitness strategies to stay active during the holiday season, so here are our tips to stay fit during all of your holiday festivities!
1. Seek Out Active Opportunities
Try ditching your fancy footwear during the holidays, and instead opt for running shoes. This footwear decision gives you a little more flexibility whenever an active opportunity presents itself.
Some examples of this would be purposely parking farther away from your destination to give you extra walking space, or taking a few walking laps around the mall before you really get started with your holiday shopping. Plus, there’s always the stairs instead of elevators and escalators.
If you’re planning on flying during the holidays to visit family, use your layover time or any time before/after your flights for some physical activity. This means instead of simply waiting in boredom at your gate, try walking around the airport terminal or doing some stretching.
And when you’re helping your loved ones plan holiday events, take the opportunity to do house chores or yardwork that keeps you moving!
2. Deep Clean Your House
This goes hand-in-hand with yardwork and house chores, but deep cleaning your home is a great way to burn some calories when you’re expecting company.
You’ll inevitably do a lot of squatting and bending as your clean hard-to-reach spots and put away your dishes, and your workout can reach even higher levels when you’re cleaning up after pets and children.
And while you’re deep cleaning or prepping your home for holiday meals, you can always throw in some calf raises, squats, or other fun workouts like dancing to keep you active. If you’re putting food in your oven and have some free time, consider going for a quick jog or walk around your neighborhood while your dish is baking.
That casserole or homemade baked goods will always taste amazing after you know you’ve earned it!
3. Plan Gym Sessions Before Your Holiday Trip
When you plan well ahead of your upcoming holiday trip, you can be more prepared to commit to your workout routine and stay active. A great idea is to set workout goals specifically oriented around the month of December, because this will keep you motivated as your prepare for your time with friends and family.
Before heading out of town, come into the Rising Legends gym and do a one-on-one session with one of our personal trainers. Our experts can help you figure out what your December fitness goals should be, and we’ll help you stay committed to your routine before your departure.
Another good idea is to look up what fitness opportunities are available at your travel destination. This could include things like local parks, trails, running routes, workout facilities, sightseeing opportunities, and other types of exercise.
4. Shorten Workout Lengths, While Increasing Your Frequency
We get it how you obviously still want to exercise during the holidays, but are just a lot busier than you usually are during the rest of the year. This is normal, but you should consider trying shorter workout lengths instead of skipping exercises altogether.
If you’re used to doing 60-minute gym sessions, try doing 20 or 30-minute sessions instead when your schedule gets tight. Jogging, running and walking are also great exercises that don’t require much time.
And if you really want to maximize the time-efficiency of your workouts, consider high-intensity interval training (HIIT). These intense workouts will rev up your metabolism and heart rate as you burn a ton of calories in a short period of time!
5. Take Advantage of Active Holiday Events
The holiday season is always full of community fun runs and races that benefit local charities and causes.
These are usually 5K runs that aren’t all that competitive, and these events also include walkers of all ages. You’ll probably have to pay a small fee to get involved, but this always goes to a great cause that’s worth supporting while getting in a good exercise with your friends and family.
One of the most popular holiday events in Nyack is The Annual Snowflake 5K. This event will be held on Sunday, December 29th at 10 a.m., and it’s supporting the Nyack Community Ambulance Corps, The Soup Angels, and People to People.
6. Build Activity Into Family Outings & Visits
It’s always fun to organize some activities with your family so you can all get exercise together. This can include venturing out on a nature trail or doing group workout activities like yoga, basketball, soccer, or a group walk around the neighborhood to see Christmas lights and decorations.
If you’ll have a lot of kids at your family gatherings this year, try organizing fun games like freeze-tag, hide-and-seek, capture the flag, dodgeball, or maybe just a good, old-fashioned snowball fight!
7. Join Group Fitness Classes
Check out our class schedule to get a glimpse into the many group fitness classes that we’re offering this holiday season.
No matter what you’re interested in, we’ve got you covered with fun classes led by our industry experts.
We know how it can sometimes feel weird to exercise on your own during the most social time of the year, so come meet our awesome community at The Rising Legends Academy of Fitness!
We’re Here When You Want To Stay Active This Holiday Season In Nyack NY!
Staying in shape during the holidays can be tough when you’re planning your workout routine all on your own, and all of us at Rising Legends want to make your holiday exercises as fun and as convenient as possible.
We look forward to seeing you at the gym, and Happy Holidays!