Tips for staying fit this Christmas

The holidays are in town already and it is a fantastic time of the year filled with parties, cocktails, chocolate… and usually very little exercise. According to research, people tend to add more weight during the holidays because they eat more during this period and most of these foods and drinks are calorie dense.
The good news is, to stay healthy, fit and energised this month, you don’t have to forgo the parties and goodies for the sake of keeping up with your workout routine while everyone else is having fun. You can have them all; a great time doing whatever you like this season and commitment to your exercises. Here are a few tips that'd help you stay healthy and fit as you enjoy your holidays

1) Prioritize Your Workouts:
Try to do your workouts early in the morning while everyone else is still sleeping. This way you will also avoid discouraging remarks like
"Oh, come on! It’s Christmas…”.

2) Drink lots of water and green tea with fresh lemon throughout the day:
Drink healthy! Since alcohol, coke and some sugary cocktails will only add more calories to the ones you've eaten, it's best you regulate your drinking. Don't get tempted to drink a lot because the drinks are free. You can choose to substitute your favourite calorie dense drink with something less rich with calorie.
I surprised myself at Christmas party I attended last week. I drank water all through! Water is satiating, so aside keeping you hydrated, it keeps you fuller for longer.

3) Eat Before Heading Out:
Don't miss your breakfasts! When you eat something before heading out, you will no longer be tempted to indulge yourself since you've already eaten. When you skip meals, there's a tendency to want to eat more later.

4) Stay Active:
Get active this season by planning fun holiday activities that'd get you working out in style. Consider going for salsa with your family or friends. Salsa is a fun dance that gets you sweating as you actively swing your body to the rhythm of the music. You can also get an extra workout by swapping elevators for stairs or by walking more. You can park your car some distance away from a store (if it's safe) and simply walk down there to do your shopping.

5) Set Realistic Goals
Exercising is important, but it's advisable to set realistic exercise objectives. If you're just starting out on your fitness journey, aim to exercise for a shorter time, say 20-30 minutes. When you achieve that you will be pleased with yourself, but if you plan one hour or more and not achieve it, you will only end up disappointed.

Here are some exercises you can incorporate into your workout routine. It's advisable to do 15 reps of each exercise for 3-5 sets. They will boost your metabolism and help you burn the Christmas calories.

Start with a light warmup. It could be skipping or jogging on a spot. If you're all up for cardio you can go running or jogging for 20-30 minutes and/or proceed to the following exercises:
Jumping squats
Walking Lunges
Crunches
Press ups
Plank
Leglifts

Stretch the muscles you just exercised. Don't forget to rest in between sets and keep yourself hydrated. A fast tempo music is a good motivation to keep you going. Now that you're done with your workout, enjoy the rest of your day!

Do you think your workout routine will survive the holidays? What are your strategies for staying fit? Please share with us.