How to stay active over Christmas

How to stay active over Christmas

‘Tis the season to be merry.’ And Christmas can certainly be a challenge for those of us who like to maintain a fit and healthy lifestyle. General busyness and the demands of family etc, can tend to push fitness to the bottom of the pile. Combine that with an increase in eating and drinking, piling on carbs you haven’t earned, and it looks like a recipe for disaster!

However, it is worth bearing in mind that the Christmas holidays cover quite a short period of time; only a week or so, and any loss of fitness over that time period is going to be marginal. It is also an opportunity to recover if you have been training hard and carrying some niggles.

Nevertheless it is a good idea to try and get out on some days if you can. As your regular routine is likely to be upset, or you may be in a different location, try something different like going for a brisk walk, or a short run in a different environment. Christmas often involves a lot of sitting down (cooks excluded!) so try and move around if you can.

Getting back to fitness in the New Year

Don’t make the mistake of blasting off into January, trying to reclaim the lost miles and calories gained. Overuse injuries due to Christmas guilt are quite common in the New Year. Start off easy and take account of the colder weather with longer warm ups and gradual rewarming when you get back indoors. You may feel a bit heavy and out of condition, perhaps a little more sluggish on your runs and walks. But don’t panic, you will quickly recover, and the fitness you have put in the bank over the previous year will soon pay out in a quick return to your normal fitness levels.

Have a Happy and Healthy Christmas with family and friends, and here’s to achieving your fitness goal in the New Year!