Wow, another year has almost passed, and the holiday season is upon us once again. Which often means food, family, food, friends, celebrations, food, drinking, food, parties, relaxing, and more food.
Mmm, that’s a lot of food in such a short space of time! This begs the question: Are your Christmas fitness actions (or lack thereof) going to undermine your good work so far? How will they affect your fitness journey progress to date?
You may think fitness and health are not your top priorities right now. But did you know there are ways you can weave in a holiday twist to your health and fitness efforts with some simple actions? Doing so can help ensure you don’t fall off the wagon entirely at this time of the year.
Firstly, remember you CAN all allow yourself to break away from your usual fitness routine and exercise targets during the holiday season. Doing so is essential to feel refreshed and motivated in the New Year.
You can also have your holiday cookies without any food guilt. The trick is to find a balance between nourishing and less-nourishing choices. You will thank yourself for it!
Read on to discover how to enjoy holiday cheer AND overcome your challenges to holiday fitness.
(This post includes affiliate links for which I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you should you make a purchase)
Embrace a new form of exercise for your Christmas fitness plan!
Your daily routines will probably be different from those during other times of the year. Maybe you’ll throw routine out the door altogether! Therefore, your holiday workouts will also likely differ during the busy holiday season.
Embrace the change in or lack of a workout routine by choosing different fitness training activities compared to what you usually do. If you’re looking for fitness motivation tips, choosing a fitness activity that inspires and excites you is a significant first step.
If you live in the Southern hemisphere, you can enjoy the sunshine and long warm days with plenty of outdoor physical activity.
Maybe you’ve got a little more time on your hands to explore a new running route. You could also consider hiring a kayak or a mountain bike for something different. Or pack up a picnic and take the family walking someplace you’ve never been before.
Some of you may have the kids at home more than usual. In that case, why not try out a simple playground workout? The young ones will probably enjoy it too!
Change up your workout plans with different winter fitness ideas
If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, you might get the opportunity to have a wonderful time with Christmas fitness activities such as ice skating! How about sledding or snow tubing? You’ll have so much fun and get your blood pumping simultaneously. These are also great activities to enjoy with an exercise buddy. Combine your holiday workouts with social time!
Planning your day around Christmas workout ideas outside your regular routine will help invigorate your mind, body, and spirit. Perhaps you’ve got a great home exercise program? If so, make sure you know about these top tips for success.
[If you don’t have a full-body workout plan to hand, grab yours for free here. It’s a bodyweight exercises pdf with three progression levels for each exercise. So, you can choose the one that’s right for you. Bodyweight exercises offer a perfect solution for at-home Christmas workouts!]
Alternatively, try out the FIIT home workout app for incredible calorie-burning workouts. Enjoy cardio workouts, body weight resistance training, and mind-body exercise. It could be your new favorite workout program.
Get 10% off any membership on FIIT using code ELLY10.
Add a holiday twist to your workouts
YouTube workouts can be great if you don’t have access to a fitness app. I’ve sifted through the ones with holiday themes for you. Many of those that appeared in my search results are targeted at the older population and won’t provide much of a workout for the average person under 70. Some I found were incredibly (in my opinion) dull.
So, I’ve done the leg work for you (you’re welcome!) and included a few options to try as part of your holiday fitness routine below. Check out the following videos to add Christmas holiday themes to your workouts.
The Christmas dance cardio workout below is a fun way to increase your heart rate while listening to Christmas-themed music.
Enjoy some Christmas-themed exercises that work your entire body with the Pilates workout below. You don’t need any exercise equipment, except a mat and a wall! Plus, it’s only 15 minutes, so you can get back to your celebrations in no time.
After something a little sweatier? Try the following HIIT full-body training workout with fitness exercises to feel your muscles burn and get your body ready for an incredible New Year ahead.
Choose fresh produce first
Depriving yourself of the tasty treats at this time of year may make you resentful and more likely to binge later. Similarly, if you only opt for careless snacking choices, you’ll likely feel tired, bloated, and disappointed with your choices at the end of the festive season.
A simple way to approach meals over the Christmas weeks is to fill half your plate with salad and/or vegetables. Then, fill the remainder of your plate with the other foods you would like to eat. Your healthy food choices will complement your Christmas fitness plan, keeping your food cravings at bay and helping you feel amazing.
You can also make nourishing sweet treats with a holiday twist. Check out these delicious and healthy Christmas treat ideas. Or, use some of your Christmas cranberries to make this raw cranberry energy bar with holiday flavor, an excellent healthy choice.
Drink sensibly
If you like a few alcoholic drinks over this time of the year, consider these ideas to help keep your drinking at a sensible level. You’ll feel more energetic, less likely to make poor food choices and feel great leading into the New Year. Plus, getting up in the morning and getting into your Christmas fitness plan will be easier!
Tips for sensible drinking over the festive season:
- Drink a big glass of water after each alcoholic drink to help keep your body hydrated.
- Consider choosing low alcohol beer instead of full strength.
- If you’re a wine drinker, why not try a spritzer – half wine and half soda water.
Be accountable for the New Year
As the New Year approaches, It’s time to review this one! Before you plan for next year, here are the 10 questions you must ask yourself. Click here to get your FREE Printable Review Your Year Workbook.
If you already feel motivated to set and achieve your New Year fitness goals, why not commit to an upcoming sporting event?
Having a fitness event lined up in your calendar can help your subconscious mind to make good choices that will support your decision to enter that event. For example, booking in for a 5km walk or run might give you the extra push to do things like walking or biking during the festive season.
More tips for great Christmas fitness
With some forethought and planning, Christmas and fitness can go hand in hand! Here are a few other great resources to help you stay on track with your health and wellness during this exciting time of year.
- Get some great tips on how to keep your stress levels under control during the ‘silly season’
- Check out these awesome ideas for Christmas fitness gifts
- Find out how to set great long term personal fitness goals using the SMART principle
Need more motivation for your festive fitness? Check out these great motivational fitness quotes to help drive you towards the action phase. You can also find out what’s popular at the moment with these top health and fitness trends.
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these recommended service provider links, like an insurance broker, or a travel agent, I may earn a commission – at no extra cost to you. [For my full disclosure, please see my DISCLAIMER page].
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