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Exercise at Christmas Without the Gym
By Janice Elizabeth Small
Gyms get pretty deserted around Christmas time. Everyone is
so busy with preparations, parties and people visiting that it's
hard to fit in getting there, getting changed and going through a
routine as regularly as you might the rest of the year.
But don't give up on exercise completely - you'll find it far harder
to get back in the swing of things if you do. Make exercise part
of the fun and keep yourself ticking over until it's time to get
back to the gym in January. Maybe you'll enjoy the alternatives
so much you'll never go back!
1. Do less
Just do ten minutes if that's all you can manage. Ten minutes of
anything - walking around the house or stair stepping or
skipping or rebounding - anything that fits your level of fitness
and the equipment you have available at home. You can do it in
the morning before your shower and it will energise you for
everything you have to get done. If you can fit in 10 minutes
later on too, so much the better. You'll keep up your fitness
levels and use a few calories which you can probably do with at
this time of year.
2. Do a class at home
Fitness videos are great if you don't have much time. There's no
getting to the gym - you have everything you need right at
home. You can pick them up for next to nothing from charity
shops or treat yourself to one or two for Christmas. And it
doesn't matter if you don't know the moves or have the latest
fitness gear - nobody's watching!
3. Clear Up
No doubt you have to get your home ready for friends and
family visiting anyway so make the clear up a workout. Put lots
of energy into it! Clear out all that clutter then clean, vacuum
and polish everything until it gleams. You'll be ready for guests,
keep up your fitness levels and use some calories all at the
same time.
4. Active fun
If you have a lot of guests and can't get your usual exercise fix
organise some active fun for everyone! You could all go bowling
or skating. Or try a game of charades or Twister. If it snows, you
can go sledging or organise a snowman building competition. At
the very least get them all out for a walk every day whatever
the weather. There are sure to be some lights to go and see or
a local carol service to attend.
5. Dance the Night Away
Don't be a wallflower. Take every opportunity to dance at
parties (it will keep you away from the buffet table too) or just
invite your partner to go dancing over the holidays. You'll have
fun, get closer and it'll be great exercise. Dancing uses up
between 270 and 540 calories an hour depending on the speed.
6. Offer a helping hand
Get active by volunteering your services in your community. You
can help serve lunch at a homeless shelter or old people's
home. Or just help your neighbours with running errands and
snow clearing. You'll get a warm glow from lending a hand as
well as from the exercise and feel much better than you do after
sitting around all afternoon watching the re-runs of "White
Christmas".
7. Escape
And if all else fails, next year book a skiing holiday for your
Christmas break instead of staying at home. There's a whole
year to save up (and to dodge the rows when you tell your
family you're going away next year!) Skiing is fantastic exercise
and you'll come back fit, invigorated and without those extra
few pounds so many seem to acquire over Christmas.
Copyright 2005, Janice Elizabeth Small About the Author Janice Elizabeth is a weight loss coach and slimming club owner with a no diet approach to permanent weight loss. Subscribe to her FREE weekly "No More Diets" ezine full of tips and recipes and receive a 24 page special report "How to have a Great Christmas without piling on the pounds". Subscribe at http://www.SimplySlimming.com/Christmas TODAY!
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Some other articles by Janice Elizabeth Small | |
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