Fitting In Fitness

One week until Christmas and everyone is talking about how busy it is.  Between shopping, wrapping, baking, traveling and parties, there is a lot going on.  Workouts can be the first thing to be cut during this time but it is so important not to break your fitness habit!  Not only do you not want to get out of the habit, exercise is especially helpful to manage the stress and extra treats that may come with this time of year.  Here are a few quick tips on fitting in some workouts the rest of this year.

1.  Quick Workouts Count!  There are plenty of vidoes online with fast workouts you can do anytime, anywhere.  I posted a 7 minute workout on my Facebook page just the other day (and did it myself!).  

2. Move Whenever You Can! If you find yourself waiting at any point during the day, do a few push ups against the counter, do some squats, do some jumping jacks or take a quick brisk walk around the house or in the house or wherever you are!  

More ideas:  Do a wall sit while you are brushing your teeth, hold a plank during commercials, walk around while talking on the phone, park as far away as you can in the parking lot or do an extra lap around the store before you check out.

3.  Make it Fun!  Play with your kids inside or outside. If you have an Xbox or Playstation do a game like Just Dance.  Go hiking with your friends or family.  If there is snow, sledding, cross country skiing and snowman making are all good ways to get exercise in with your family and have fun.  Dance parties are always a good idea.

4.  Make Your Gym Time Count!  If you do go to the gym, make it the most effective workout you can do in the time you have.  Walk or run a little faster or do high intensity intervals (HIIT). I lead a 25 minute workout circuit at LivRite Fitness in Noblesville on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  It is intense, but you get a full body workout in just 25 minutes!  (Want to try it for free?  Contact me and I'll get you a free pass for your first time.)

Keeping your fitness habit is the most important thing this time of year.  Don't be hard on yourself if you do miss your typical workouts and have to adjust your schedule a bit until the Holidays are over.  Just fit it in when you can, and above all, enjoy the Holidays and appreciate the time with friends and family.