It’s that time of year once again…
The time we all struggle with weight gain from all the festivities and a lack of time to take care of ourselves.
This year try to stay ahead of the battle.
Start now to develop some small habits that will help keep your weight in check this holiday season. It’s helpful to find ways to incorporate exercise into our everyday busy lives.
Start in the morning when you wake up and continue all day. Hang lists of exercises in places you can do them to remind you such as next to the TV, the kitchen, the bathroom, your office…
Be creative and find a new exercise to do that you don’t mind doing. You are more likely to do them if you don’t hate them. Don’t feel pressured about how many you do or how long you do them, don’t worry about counting, just do an exercise until you feel fatigue and then do it a little longer.
Some of my favorite at home exercise times are:
- 10 minutes first thing in the morning (stretching, jumping jacks, lunges, squats, planks, push-ups etc)
- While on the phone (squat, lunge, curl soup cans or milk cartons, contract your abs)
- Commercial time while watching TV: exercise the entire commercial (tricep dips on sofa, push-ups, seat squats (squat on and off sofa almost touching it with your bottom), lunges, planks, jumping jacks, mountain climbers, burpees)
- While cooking (squat while a timer is going, do push-ups or tricep dips on counter, leg lifts while stirring or mixing, curl soup cans or jars)
- Before using the restroom (do 20 squats before you use the restroom)
- While brushing teeth (that’s 2 minutes to squat or leg lifts or contract your abs)
- Take a brisk 10 minute walk when you feel stressed, have cravings, or get a little free time. Walking reduces cravings and stress.
- While you are at home do an exercise before any and all snacks to make you think before eating.
Enjoy the holiday season! If you make simple exercises a daily habit, you’ll be relieved to not have to work so hard after the holidays are over.
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~ Sarah @ Innovative Directions in Health