4 tips to keep fit during the holidays
Winter puts our bodies to the test. It is more important than ever to be physically active this season. Being active and eating well helps keep your stress levels low and start the new year off on the right foot. Here are 4 tips to help you stay fit during the holidays.
Find time to exercise
Year-end celebrations generally include a less active program. It seems like a no-brainer, but getting some exercise during this time is key to staying fit. Let's face it: You add calories, so instead of reducing your intake, which can be difficult and stressful especially during this time, focus on increasing your calorie burn.
Run short training sessions as soon as you can find some time: walk after heavy meals or take the stairs instead of the elevator. The American Council on Exercise recommends 60 minutes of physical activity per day: You can break it up into two 30-minute sessions or even four shorter sessions. The important thing is to move.
Give your meals the attention they deserve
According to research published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, being alert during meals can help avoid weight gain. This study goes further: Paying attention to what you eat helps not only realize that you have eaten enough, but also that you eat less during the rest of the day.
What does this mean concretely? Of course, there's nothing wrong with eating more during the holidays, but savoring the food and enjoying every bite can help you avoid gorging on too many cookies or an extra slice of yoke.
Winter training
In the winter, your workouts are more likely to take a back seat. Treadmills and indoor bikes can become great allies to keep you fit at this time of year because they provide easy-to-follow cardio sessions that don't require much effort, but still make you work hard enough to burn calories. It's also helpful if weight machines give you an alternative to running and sweating.
Keep your muscles and joints flexible
When a period of physical inactivity begins—whether short or long—it doesn't take long for the body to feel the first negative aspects. Muscles and joints (hip, back, neck, and knees, to name a few) are no longer properly stimulated, become stiff and lose flexibility. In the Technogym app you will find a variety of stretching, yoga and movement exercises for all parts of the body.
Restoring flexibility in muscles and joints is also a great way to restore the motivation needed to exercise, often pushed aside when you feel stiff.
To reactivate the hip movement, grab the back of a chair or other object firm enough to keep your balance, and stand on one foot. Swing the other foot in front of you from left to right, then switch sides.
The Wellness Ball Active Sitting is the ideal choice for maintaining correct posture in the back and hips and for making the abdominal and lumbar muscles perform a series of precise movements that stabilize your spine while seated. Thanks to the Wellness Ball Active Sitting session, you can stretch, strengthen and tone your muscles while seated: an ideal choice for the holiday season.
The versatility of this accessory also helps relieve tension and stiffness in the neck and shoulders and improve leg joint flexibility through stretching exercises that can be easily performed in the living room or office.