There’s shopping to be done and cookies to bake and presents to wrap and cards to be sent. There are cocktails, cookie swaps and ugly Christmas sweater parities every weekend. The sun sets before 5:00pm. It’s cold, dark, and perhaps storming where you live. Whatever the excuse, it is not as good as how good regular sweat sessions throughout the holiday season will make you feel.
Tips | Working Out Through the Holidays
1 // Make it quick!
Sometimes the last thing I want to do after a long day is exercise. It’s dark out, the house is cold, and making a pot of soup is more appealing. Yet, I know if I commit to just 20 to 30 minutes of intense, plyometric or weight-heavy exercise, I’ll feel the positive effects of a quick sweat sesh.
2 // Grab a friend.
Make dates with friends for a hike, run or to hit the slopes. I try to schedule runs with friends most weekends; running with someone pushes me to run farther and sometimes faster than I would running solo. Plus, it’s great time to catch up and vent about the holiday stress chat about the holiday cheer!
3 // Be an early bird.
Get your workouts done early in the morning to leave the rest of the day for the holiday bustle.
4 // Make travel and family time active time!
Pack your activewear when traveling and/or visiting family over the holidays. If spending ample time sitting in a car or plane, aim to squeeze in a quick morning workout before hours of sedentary travel. Also, after opening gifts on Christmas morning – get outdoors!
[post 5.5 mile run + pre dancing the night away at my work’s holiday party]
Workouts | Week of December 1
Monday – Rest
Tuesday – Butt Burner Cardio Blast [7 rounds] + The Holiday Rev-up Workout
Wednesday – No Equipment Plyo Workout + The Boyfriend Workout (only 3 sets)
Thursday – Arms & Abs Superset Workout [coming soon!]
Friday – Rest
Saturday – 5.5 mile park run with Nicole
Sunday – WREC workout with P [random mix of moves, as always!]
- 5 min. Stair Master
- 30 min. treadmill [20 min. run + 10 min. walk] // 3.1 miles
- barbell clean + snatch practice
- 10 back squats @ 45# + 10 box jumps (3x)
- 10 deadlifts @ 75# + 10 decline push-ups (3x)
- deadlift + clean + thruster @ 55lb. [approx. 15 reps]
- kettlebell set @ 18lb.
30 sec. single arm swing / 15 sec. rest
30 sec. single arm clean + press / 15 sec. rest
30 sec. single arm front squat / 15 sec. rest>> repeat on other side
What’s your strategy for exercising through the holidays?