How to Fit in Exercise During the Busy Holiday Season

Last Updated on December 19, 2019 by Paula

The Christmas season is a time of year when we tend to slack off with our exercise routine.

I know, cuz, I haven’t worked out in a week now?

If you’ve been working hard at losing weight or keeping the pounds off that you already managed to shed, it can be difficult to stick with your long-term commitment to fitness goals once the cookie tray or hors d’ouvres platter gets passed around.

There are few reasons why this happens.

One, because at holiday time, we tend to fill our social calendars with too many parties (plus a lot of shopping in between!), with not a lot of hours left over in our day for self care.

This is a month we are more likely to meet up and catch up with old friends. During the Christmas season, celebrations and merriment abound, and with these come plenty of high-calorie temptations.

(Plus, I don’t know if it is just me, but I am always hungry when I am happy!)

We might find ourselves heading over to our favorite cafe after work, or donning our ugliest Christmas sweater for a christmas gathering with friends you plan to touch base with after not seeing them for years!

Many a dieter has found herself struggling not to binge on fried appetizers, or down that third, carbohydrate-laden beer (or Tequila Rose, which my girl gang loves)

If this revelry is going to be the plan for one full month, then we definitely will want to balance the excess with not less, but more, exercise.

How to fit in fitness during an already over-booked season?

Sneak in exercise during your regular routine.

Did you ever notice how much easily you tend to drop pounds when you’re getting ready to move into a new home?

With every days spent packing and lifting heavy boxes and making repeated trips up and down stairs, putting a little muscle into cleaning, we’re accomplishing something that eludes many a frustrated dieter who can’t seem to kick the pounds.

We’re engaging long hours of a low-impact, fat-burning exercise routine simply by constantly moving around and using our muscles more than we normally would.

If you find yourself short on gym hours, or coming back from your holiday celebrations a mite bit too late to don those jogging shorts, you can compensate for the lack of aerobic exercise by engaging in a fat-burning all-day working by moving around more in general.

How to make it happen in your everyday life:

Park in the faraway spot.

Most people spend at least several extra minutes circling the grocery store or mall parking lot in search of the closest spot to put their car. But think about it, why do we do this? If we park farther away and hoof it into the store, we’re doing our bodies a great favor by getting in some extra exercise. And we’re even showing generosity to others who may have physical impairments that make the close spot more desirable.

Take the stairs.

You’ve probably heard it a million times, but so many people recommend simple solutions like walking up a few extra flights of steps because it’s an easy way to get exercise while accomplishing what we need to do. In fact, why not make this a fun social activity. If you’re walking back from office lunch with your crew of coworkers, it might be fun to all take the stairs together.

Walk instead of drive.

Do you work or reside in a city? Instead of ubering, taxiing, driving or taking the bus, consider the added benefit of walking to your destination. Get some comfortable sneakers or other type of fitness footwear, dress appropriately for the weather, and then get out there and hit the pavement at a brisk, calorie-burning pace.

Walk and run with your dog.

If the thought of exercising for yourself isn’t enough to keep you motivated during the holiday season, then do it for your dog. When you get home from work, skip the snacks and instead pop on your favorite leisure pants. Grab the leash, and head out for a brisk trot or jog around the blog with your favorite furry friend. Just a half hour of this type of exercise each day should keep you on target with weight loss.

Keep your fitness goals realistic.

Do you feel intimidated by those people on Facebook who are marathoning and running 5Ks left and right? Setting health goals that also help others is great, but not everyone has the time for this, especially around the holidays. If the hard-core runners on Facebook have you scrolling and snacking instead of exercising, it’s time to lower the bar. Aim for a mile a day at minimum, with some floor stretches at home for added benefit.