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5 Reasons NOT to Skip Your Workout During the Holidays
Excuses for not exercising over the holidays abound. They range from the quite understandable, like “I have to get my holiday cards sent!” or “I have to make dinner for 12!” to the totally absurd: “I have to get the dog neutered so he won’t embarrass us in front of our holiday guests!”
Many people profess feeling selfish about taking time for themselves during the holidays. Well, it’s time to put a stop to those feelings and get moving!
Feeling guilty? Wake up earlier to get in your workout, then go about your day as normal. You won’t be taking any more “me” time than you were by sleeping.
Exercise, especially during this holiday season, should be at the top of your “to do” list. Here’s why:
1. You’ll keep off the holiday pounds.
Yes, scaring women by telling them they’ll gain 7-10 pounds during the holidays is how all magazines sell their December / January issues. Lucky for you, it’s not true. You’d have to have a nightly egg-nog chugging contest to reach such rapid weight gain!
However, according to a study conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, people do gain about a pound over the winter season—and that pound usually doesn’t come off.
One pound is not a big deal, right? That’s 10 pounds over the course of a decade—and while you’re getting older, your metabolism is slowing down, making it even harder to shed those pesky holiday pounds.
So, exercise! Just 30 minutes of jogging a day can burn 300 calories—enough to let you indulge in a holiday treat without worrying about having the holidays over the years accumulate in your midsection.
2. You’ll feel jollier!
Replace some of your holiday drinking (no, alcohol is not necessary to make you more congenial!) with exercise, and benefits awaiting you might include: no drunk dialing, no puffy eyes, no hangovers, and no extra caloric baggage.
Seriously, exercise will make you happier. It’s a scientific fact. Exercise stimulates your brain’s pituitary gland to release endorphins, your very own—and entirely legal—natural morphine, which will give you a feeling of euphoria when released.
What do you have to do to get this endorphin rush? According to Robert G. McMurray of the University of Carolina at Chapel Hill, all you have to do is 20 to 30 minutes of exercise at 80% of your capacity.
The more stressed you are, the more exercise you’ll need to balance you out. Just remember, you’ll come back from your morning jog or trip to the gym ready to tackle those Christmas cards and bake that fruit cake with a smile and holiday cheer!
3. You’ll save money.
Stress can wreak havoc on your immune system. The last thing you want over the holidays is to become sick, thereby becoming more stressed, thereby entering a nasty cycle of immunosuppression and unhappiness.
Exercise can combat stress by making you happier (see above) and healthier. As you know, when you’re happy and healthy, you’re not in the doctor’s office wracking up medical bills and prescription fees for happy medicine.
Even better—, if you’re not sick, you’ll be around more, and more useful while you’re around. So take the time for yourself to exercise guilt-free!
4. You’ll look hot at your holiday parties!
No weight loss required!
As we’ve seen, exercise can make you happier, healthier, and it also boosts self-confidence. Embarking on an exercise plan allows you to set goals—goals you can work toward achieving every day, like jogging for a full 20 minutes.
A sense of achievement is a great self-confidence booster. (And so are those more-defined muscles you’ll get from being active!)
Self-confidence is always at the top of the list of what makes people attractive. When you hit the holiday party scene happy with yourself, it’ll show. Make sure to have a place to put all those phone numbers you’ll be receiving!
5. You’ll have more energy to tackle everything else!
So it may not seem like jerking yourself out of bed at 5am to go for a jog could possibly make you more peppy. But it can!
Says Tim Puetz, PhD of the University of Georgia exercise psychology laboratory, “We live in a society where people are always looking for the next sports drink, energy bar, or cup of coffee that will give them the extra edge to get through the day, but it may be that lacing up your tennis shoes and getting out and doing some physical activity every morning can provide that spark of energy that people are looking for."
So no more excuses this holiday season! Get out there and get your blood pumping fast in a positive way—not because of the anxiety you feel every time your mother-in-law opens her gift!
If someone told you there was a gift that would make you happier, more self-confident, healthier, and more energetic, wouldn’t you want it NOW? You can have it NOW…run! (Or dance, or rock climb, or bike, or swim…)
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Thank you for this awesome post! I've been skimping on my exercise routine because I've been so busy preparing for the holidays. You've given me the motivation that I needed. I am glad to hear that the 7-10 pound weight gain in winter isn't true! I'm going to put my workout tape in now.
Those are all excellent points. I especially like how you pointed out that the 7 to 10 pound weight gain is a scare tactic, but there is a legitimate concern about gaining even a pound a year. I had never considered what an impact that one pound could make. Hopefully I can stay motivated through the season thanks to your reminders.
Very true. It is very common that we skip our exercises during holidays. Needless to say we add on weight.The authour stresses the importance of exercises during the holidays. The tips are really simple and practical.
Those are great points. I been neglecting my exercises of doing too much holiday stuff. And if I think about it exercise does make you feel better. I'm going to start as of today to restart my exercising even if I dont really have the time.
You make some great points in your article! I admit 100% to being so busy I skipped every workout this week. I feel drained and your point about more energy is a good reminder!
Thanks a lot, I would definitely recommend this blog, I know many people, including myself, who during the holidays just grind to a halt and stop working out. Thanks a lot!
Thanks for the tips. This is a blog you need to share across the blog world because the holidays take a toll on us all. We get so busy with everything that we dismiss our usual workouts and after indulging in all the cakes, cookies, candies, etc. it shows. I am so stressed and I'm sure a trip to the gym is just what I need. Thanks for the reminder.
thanks a lot for those tips . those tips are working . lots of people avoid exercising in holidays ,but those points are practical.
good post! I was pretty good through Thanksgiving, managing to lose 5 pounds, but Christmas is here and I have missed 3 of my 5 weekly workouts this week! I will be at the gym tomorrow morning!
These are some very helpful comments. I usually do skimp on workouts during Christmas so its always good to remember to stay focused. This kind of article would be one that you usually would see in the newspaper. I enjoyed the tips and will be sure to remember to STAY ACTIVE during the holidays.
I love your blogs! They're easy to read and funny on top of it! Not to mention the great tips you always have. Thanks!
I really enjoyed this article! I definitely find it difficult to get motivated to go to the gym on a regular day, let alone the holidays. However, once I do go, the endorphins stick with me all day and I'm glad I went. I'm going to keep your comments in mind to help keep me motivated to work out this holiday season.
Fantastic blog posting. I will take the all those five reasons seriously and follow them in letter and spirit. People make a mess of their life during holidays The advice given are very helpful for lazy people like me who skip good routine practices like jogging and exercises.
Thanks so much for that amazing blog post. Those were excellent tips. I have seen people gain a few pounds over the holidays, and thanks to you I now know what to do to not become like them .
Thanks
Great points. I dislike exercise, and have found that using the holidays as a sort of exercise-safe-haven has not been good for me. I've been sick twice and feel like I've put on a few pounds. Time to hit the gym.
Right on! I can't live without exercise. It's kind of ironic that I should have to use up energy to have more energy, but there's no question that I feel more energetic for the rest of the day following a workout. Also, exercise picks up my mood better than anything else I have ever tried. So, there's every reason to keep doing what works during the holidays.
I always think I will start exercising over the holidays - it is the time we need to release our pent up emotions and energy into something that is healthy and good for our bodies AND mind! Great point! I especially agree that taking time for health over the holiday crush is doubly important! Be good to your self & you will find more energy to give to others!
Thank you for the great article and this is truly the bit of help that you need when working out. It is always good to see what you will get if you keep working out.
Thanks so much for this blog. I agree, I am overweight and I know I wont lose it all in a month but, the exercise really helps me keep up my energy and cope with all the holiday stresses.
Thanks for taking the time to motivate us all! I can come up with every excuse in the book for not exercising and I usually end up feeling tired and bad about myself. We all need more energy this time of year and exercise can really do that for us. And who doesn't want to look hot! HAHA!!
Yes, you should keep your diet during the holidays. People will be jeloius and proud about what you are doing. You will feel better about yourself. Keeping your diet is important because you want to stay persistent with what you are doing, because you will forget about your diet after the holidays and it will be difficult to start on your diet again.
So true! Great reasons and all true for sure. I know that I missed my daily swim a couple of days due to the place I belong to was closed or had limited their hours. On those days, I did not feel good at all!
I definitely agree! IT will really help you in doing a lot of things that you need to. There must be consistency with the daily routines. I really love your posts. Almost all of them are very informative and very interesting to read. Thanks a lot.
Agreed exercise is very important
Okay, so the holidays might be over and my workouts were skipped... but, I have vowed to start anew in 2009! I think many people do not realize how good exercise makes you feel until they skip a few days!
People need to read this especially during the holidays. The holidays are the worst time for putting on the weight because of all the yummy foods. However, what’s most important is being healthy. Exercise is the key. Great information here.
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