Get it in where you can fit it in – Your fitness doesn’t have to take a back seat during the holidays!

get it in where you can fit it inDon’t you just love the holidays? Christmas is my favorite. I’m super excited for the holidays! I love the food, traveling to see family – I am so thankful to be able to travel to see them over the last few years, they live in Michigan.

 

Yum, all the food, right?! I know the holidays can create anxiety for a lot of us. We either give up exercising regularly because we don’t have time, or feel we can only get a good workout if we are in the gym for an hour or two. Both are myths – I bet you have 20 minutes you can spare, and you can absolutely get a great workout in 20 minutes – I’ll prove it.

 

I know time is short during the holidays. You probably don’t have enough time to drive to your gym and get your workout outs in, and then drive back home. That can take upwards of two hours, depending on where your gym is.

 

So what do you do? You can train right at home when you’re just too busy. All you need Is 20 to 30 minutes, give or take. Heck, even 15 minutes is better than nothing. We are quick to dismiss shorter workouts because we are so used to thinking more is better…well, more is not always better. Better is better.

 

Doing shorter workouts can do several things for you:

 

  • They’re time saving – workouts don’t have to be an hour. There’s a time and place for hour long workouts, but when you are busy, or have family in town, or traveling, or kids are on a school break, an hour to two hours just won’t cut it. The thought of going to the gym for an hour creates stress because you are thinking about the time you are missing with family or what have you. The easy solution is to do quick workouts right at home.

 

  • You get to combine strength and cardio into one workout, giving you the best bang for your buck. For my cardio heads, you can get that heart pumping action that you get with running, except you spend less time doing it. Win win!

 

  • With short and quick workouts, there’s no time for chatting, because you only have 20 minutes to get as many rounds in as possible.

 

  • With 20 minute workouts, at least you can still get a good workout in. It’s better than nothing. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. Some exercise is better than no exercise. Don’t knock 20 minute workouts until you give it a try.

 

  • Continuing to train throughout the holiday season will help you keep the pounds away. Come January 1st you will be ahead of the pack, because you have been continuing to work out.

 

 

There you have it, several reasons to continue training throughout the holiday season.

 

The double whammy of not continuing some form of workout is the increased caloric intake and not working out, this will definitely bring on some weight gain. Nothing wrong with that per se – as long as you don’t mind a bit of weight gain, I just want you to be aware, and definitely don’t want you going on a restrictive diet when January 1st rolls around.

 

So, you combat the stress of weight gain by staying active with a few workouts a week and being mindful and moderate with the extra food that will be available.

 

Also, wanted to include some quick workouts for you to add to your arsenal!

 

Workout 1:

1 BW Squat – 1 Squat Jump

2 BW Squats – 2 Squat Jumps

3 BW Squats – 3 Squat Jumps

 

Repeat all the way up to 10, got time start at the bottom and go back up the ladder 10, 9, 8,….

 

Workout 2: Complete as many rounds as possible in 20 minutes. Rest as needed – work until you can’t and rest until you can push again – This is Rest Based Training #RBT

  1. KB Goblet Squat – 10 reps
  2. BW Glute Bridges – 10 reps/10 pulses
  3. KB Swing – 10 reps
  4. Lateral Lunge – 10 reps
  5. Pushups – 5 Standard, 5 Narrow
  6. KB Swings

 

Workout #3: 25 Minutes – Complete as many rounds as possible in 25 – Rest based Style

  1. Dumbbell Reverse Lunge- Forward Lunge- Lateral Lunge 5 each way –
  2. Mountain Climber – 20
  3. Single Arm Squat Press – 5 per side
  4. Inch Worm to Plank to a push up – As many as you can do with good from

 

 

Have you seen my super simple Holiday Hack Guide? I’ve put together a FREE guide with 10 Simple Hacks to navigate the Holiday season.  With my free guide you will also get a 5 week eCourse, so we can continue the conversation about ways to stay sane and keep you waistline intact. I can’t wait to connect with you in your inbox!

The name of the game this is holiday season, is to #MaintainDontGain