Shopping, parties, baking, decorating, cooking, wrapping—the list of things to do to prepare for the holidays can appear endless. And working out never seems to make the list. You may think it's too hard to squeeze in a workout during the busy holiday season, but the benefits are worth it. So we present 10 fun, easy ways to help you stay active during the holidays. You might not even realize that you're actually exercising!
Put on holiday music and start dancing! Classic tunes such as Frosty the Snowman, Jingle Bells and Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree all have rhythm you (and your family) can move and groove to.
Chop down your own Christmas tree. You'll have to walk around to find the right tree, chop it down, and then drag it back to your car. That's a pretty complete workout—aerobic and strength training! Not to mention the fresh air that will energize the whole family.
Start a new holiday tradition by going on an after-dinner walk to check out the festive holiday lights and decorations. You'll burn off some dinner calories, bond as a family, and add experience some holiday festivity.
Call a friend and schedule a game of indoor tennis or racquetball. The pleasant conversation and energizing exercise will help reduce holiday stress.
Have holiday cleaning sprees: Set the timer for 15 minutes and do as much cleaning as quickly as you can. Fifteen minutes of brisk activity is a great way to get in a small workout, plus it helps keep the house in order when the family is spending more time indoors.
Don't forget the family's best friend. Throw a favorite toy and run with your dog to keep everyone moving. And be sure to take your dog for his daily walks. You'll both enjoy the fresh air and exercise.
Get the family involved in yard work and decorating outside. Rake up the last of the leaves and get in one last mow of the lawn. Hang holiday lights on the house plus bushes and trees in the yard.
Try some exercise while you're cooking and baking—squats, lunges, and bicep curls. Pump that can of pumpkin 10 times with each arm. Do 10 squats while mixing the cookie batter. You may feel silly, but we bet you'll feel better about enjoying those treats when they come out of the oven!
When shopping, wear comfortable clothes and shoes so you can power walk. Take an extra lap around the mall when you're finished shopping. Instead of circling for the best parking spot, park as far away as possible. All of the extra walking will add up!
Enjoy the great outdoors. Build a snowman or have a snowball fight. Go sledding—trekking up and down big hills is a great workout. You'll be burning calories and having a blast at the same time.
