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Fabio Comano, a certified trainer at the American Council on Exercise, recommends plunging in and getting in shape now, knowing that the holidays will bring a few pounds. "Most people tend to put on weight in winter," he tells WebMD. "It's part of our (biological) survival pattern, a little like animals packing it on for hibernation."
Comano thinks the holidays are stressful enough without loading yourself down with unrealistic exercise goals. "If you exercise 45 minutes a day, you may only be able to do 30 minutes," he says.
- Start the day with deep-breathing and meditating (if you meditate).
- Take a walk before a meal, then one after. Or take a walk after dinner but before dessert.
- If you bake cookies as gifts, walk them around to the neighbors' houses.
- If you exercise in the morning normally, keep up that schedule. Just don't skip.
- Buddy up with a family member. Walking is a good time to catch up.
- Start some family traditions that are active, such as cross-country skiing.
- Gillespie recommends make-work projects, such as setting the table one piece at a time and returning to the kitchen in between. "Put on some holiday tunes and dance!" she urges.
- Don't stress out about exercise. It's the other way around—exercise eliminates stress!
