Festive fitness for the holidays!

So, it's nearly the end of the year and the festive season is upon us, so a great opportunity to relax and slack off on the exercise for a while, right? Well, actually, the opposite is true, as this is the perfect time of year to keep on working out to make sure you don't undo all the positive changes you've made during 2014.

Without doubt the holiday season and New Year celebrations do bring changes. There are more social events and time spent with family and friends. It is also a busy period as we rush around trying to finish our chores and tasks before the end of the year so can relax and enjoy the holidays. So, it's understandable if you're tempted to let your exercise regime slide, but before you do, keep in mind why festive fitness over the holidays can actually be of real benefit:

• Boosts fat-burning - Even with the best will in the world, the chances are that over the festive period you are going to eat and drink more than usual. And the likelihood is that many of these foods will be higher in fat, sugar and calories than your usual diet. Add a sedentary life over the holidays and you have the recipe for piling on the pounds. So combat indulgences with some great cardio-burn.
• Good stress reliever - Love it or hate it, the festive season can be quite stressful. With so much to organize and get involved with, not to mention presents and people to see, it is easy to finish the holidays feeling frazzled rather than refreshed. Exercise relaxes the body and the mind and takes you mentally and physically away from all the festive hubbub.
• Energises and enhances your mood - No-one is suggesting that you go for a huge run after a big turkey dinner, but if you get into the pattern of lazing around too much then you are going to feel sluggish. If you feel tired then you are more likely to feel fed up too, leading to generally low-energy and a dull-mood. If you really want some festive sparkle then motivate your whole being with an exhilarating workout.
• Start New Year as you mean to go on - If you stop exercising or indulge too much over the holidays then you might find it more difficult to get into gear again in the New Year. You might tell yourself that the opposite is true, but this is often just a mind trick. Listen to the voice of reason and logic, that if you are already keeping up your fitness levels then you are going to find it easier to step up to the next challenge in the New Year.
• Opportunity to spend some good alone-time - What are the holidays about? Well, regardless of your beliefs, the fact is that most vacation time is about other people. While it can be lovely to get the whole family together, it can also prove a little too much when you feel besieged by loved ones. Escape to your own space, or go for a run and focus on quality time not quantity.
• Inspires balance in your lifestyle - Any choice we make about one area of our life can easily affect other aspects. If you keep up your activity levels over the holidays then this is going to influence things such as your diet. You'll want to balance healthy eating with healthy living. Whereas if you let the exercise drop off other healthy positives may take a dip too.
• Keeps old bad habits from being triggered - Bad habits form quickly and good habits can unravel just as fast. You want to be able to look back on 2014 knowing you were really dedicated to making a difference in your life. This may sounds dramatic but don't underestimate the power of what we do to our bodies, or don't do, on how we feel psychologically. Go out on a high and hit the ground running in 2015!
• Boosts the immune system - With lots of people in close contact, it is not surprising that this is the time of year when colds and flus are spread easily. It is boring and unpleasant to be ill when everyone else is relaxing or enjoying themselves. Exercise give your immune systems a boost and keeps you fighting fit!

What are your fitness plans for 2015? Can we help you work out your goals and help you get there? Get in touch!