January always sees a surge in people taking up fitness and getting some personal training as part of their New Year's resolutions. December, on the other hand, is the month when many people secretly (or openly) take the view that it's OK to let themselves go. Even when people recognize that they should be doing more to take care of themselves, it can be very easy to sacrifice exercise time for festive activities, particularly for people who have children. Ironically, Christmas is exactly the time when people are likely to benefit most from taking regular exercise.
Leaving aside the need to burn off the extra calories from the sweet treats (and alcohol), which seem to be everywhere over Christmas, one of the major benefits of exercise is that it boosts the body's immune system. Given that winter is peak season for coughs and colds as well as more serious flues and that crowded spaces such as public transport, schools and offices are perfect for transmitting the germs, regular exercise can help make the difference between a healthy winter and a miserable one.
Fresh air and exercise to beat the winter blues
On the
subject of being miserable, long nights and cold days often make even the most
optimistic people feel down. While it can be incredibly tempting to stay
indoors, it's surprising how much people can benefit from getting outside in
the fresh air and getting some outdoor exercise, even if it’s just a brisk
walk. One can often feel drowsy when
suffering from the effects of too much wine the night before and a toasty
living room. A walk will rid you of this
drowsiness. For those for whom this really isn't an option, even indoor
exercise is better than none. Any sort of exercise will release adrenalin,
which is excellent for fighting off the winter blues. It also increases the
body's metabolic rate, and gets the blood moving, which can do wonders for cold
hands and feet.
Of course, it is genuinely often a challenge to fit in regular exercise with everything going on during the Christmas period, whether it's extra work before the holidays, fitting in school plays with visits to (and from) relatives, parties or just all the extra shopping and present-wrapping. This is why so many fitness classes run half-empty (or just cancel). There are, however, ways to fit in at least some extra exercise in even the busiest of lives, such as getting off the bus a stop early, taking the stairs instead of the lift or buying exercise DVDs to do short workouts at home. You have to make a choice and if you decide that you want to stay in shape over the Christmas period then you will simply have to make the time. Don't sit on your sofa for an hour watching some mindless midday TV program. Instead, get out into the fresh air for a run or walk. Trust me, you will feel substantially better!
Of course, it is genuinely often a challenge to fit in regular exercise with everything going on during the Christmas period, whether it's extra work before the holidays, fitting in school plays with visits to (and from) relatives, parties or just all the extra shopping and present-wrapping. This is why so many fitness classes run half-empty (or just cancel). There are, however, ways to fit in at least some extra exercise in even the busiest of lives, such as getting off the bus a stop early, taking the stairs instead of the lift or buying exercise DVDs to do short workouts at home. You have to make a choice and if you decide that you want to stay in shape over the Christmas period then you will simply have to make the time. Don't sit on your sofa for an hour watching some mindless midday TV program. Instead, get out into the fresh air for a run or walk. Trust me, you will feel substantially better!
While exercising alone does have benefits in terms of health and fitness, the reality is that many people find it very hard to find the motivation to get started and even those who do start may be tempted to cut corners or simply lack the ability to measure their activity and progress accurately. With that in mind, December could be the time for an early Christmas present of some time with a personal trainer, who can work flexibly around personal commitments. They will be able to help you get organized, and give you tips on healthy lifestyle choices. Either way, just identify some time in your Christmas period to exercise and start the New Year one step ahead of the rest of those who are looking to get fit!
