Post Christmas Exercises
Many of us have been a lot less active over the Christmas period, sitting in front of the T.V with a glass of wine in one hand and fifth mince pie in the other! Christmas isn't Christmas without a little bit of over-indulgence. We all tend to eat more throughout the winter anyway, but it could be said that December is the main month for it.
January is upon us at the blink of an eye, and yes, we need to get back to our normal routine; both work, day to day routine and exercise.
So what should we do?
Exercise and watching our calorie intake should help us loose those few extra pounds and return or improve our fitness levels!
Here are some ideas to make those healthy changes:
Have an open sandwich at lunch on one slice of bread instead of two.
Trade a chocolate bar for a piece of fruit
Use low fat spread instead of butter.
Swap the glass of wine in the evening for a wine glass of water with some fresh fruit slices
Reduce portion sizes
Returning to your exercise routine may be difficult and starting a new one even harder so PACE yourself back into things.
If you usually go to the gym or out for a run that’s great….get up and go, but start with a slightly reduced routine. If it’s all new and you’ve just signed that gym membership get on that bike, cross trainer or treadmill and gradually build the routine. Have a chat with a personal trainer to get some structure to your routine.
Working your core abdominal muscles is vital, simple tummy exercises are great to get you started or for the more advanced you could try the half or full plank and side plank
Exercise does not necessarily need a gym or any equipment. Instead of jumping on a bus or train to get to work or the shops walk some or all of the way. Working out at home is also a possibility. Try some lunges, squats, jumping jacks or crunches.
Most importantly have fun – exercise should make you feel good and you should enjoy it; sure, you might feel a little achy after your first few sessions, but that's natural – don't do any activity you don't enjoy.
So, good luck with whichever way you decide to go…. remember spring and summer are just around the corner with lighter evenings to spur you on.
Sources;
www.pinterest.com
The Guardian