Keeping Fit During The Holidays

Between gift shopping, family gatherings, and holiday office parties, many people find the holiday season to be a busy time and often have to make compromises in their daily routines.

“During the holidays it can get very busy so a lot of us fall off track with our regular fitness regimen that we follow. You may not get the normal consistent exercise that you normally get throughout the rest of the year, but getting anything, like 30 minutes when you’re used to 60 is still better than getting nothing,” said Fitness advisor Stacy Bussiere, who is reminding area residents that are trying to stay in shape this holiday season to get in that little bit of expertise wherever you can—even if that means ditching your exercise partner.

Bussiere said, “A lot of times people do use the buddy system and it’s great because it does help keep you accountable. If your buddy is not as motivated as you, or their schedule is even more hectic than yours, than that might be a downfall for you. So I suggest during the holidays to look at your schedule and see where you have openings and use that little bit of time to get some physical activity in and not worry about aligning that time with somebody else schedule.”

Another thing that will help you stay in shape is by resisting the temptation of cookies and treats.  “Two healthy eating tips that I like to give during the holidays: One is to watch the sugar intake. There’s lots of sugar cookies around, there’s lots of platters of delicious sweetness floating around the office or at home. So try to limit the sugar and another one is try to stick to clean eating. Cutting out those processed foods that don’t have a lot of nutritional value for you will help you during this time of year,” said Bussiere.

It’s also important to remember that most people regain normalcy in their schedules after the first of the year and a little bit of lost exercise is not anything to worry about.  “The holidays are a time for family. They’re a time for friends, and it’s not a time to stress out because you have to cut your exercise regiment by 20 minutes. Enjoy the holidays. Know that you’re moving as much as you can and when the holiday week is over, you’re going to get back on track and you’re going to be motivated to do so,” said Bussiere.