Stay in Shape- Our 7 favourite Christmas fitness workouts to try

Welcome to December! We're in a month filled with celebration, gatherings, and indulgence. Whether in Australia or abroad, this time of year is often associated with a lot of fun, and weight gain can be a byproduct.

In fact, a scientific study reported that from the last week of November to January, individuals typically can expect to gain between 0.4 kg and 0.9 kg, adding a lot to their weight! But that study is subjective! 

The truth is, with a lot of alcohol, chocolates, carbohydrates and processed food, it may be more than that alone. Increased social engagements may leave you feeling burned out, discouraging exercise. 

But you need to! Staying in shape during this time of year is crucial! To help you stay on track, learn about our favourite Christmas fitness workouts below.

What does it mean to be healthy at Christmas?

Being healthy at Christmas isn't always about being conscious of your calories; there are different elements to it. While it's often seen as a time of joy and celebration, there's a lot of social pressure due to challenges and financial strains on spending on gifts. 

Moreover, the amount of social gatherings and family events can increase feelings of loneliness, isolation, sadness and depression. Research reveals that in Australia, deaths by suicide are higher towards the end of the year, which could potentially be due to similar factors.

On top of that, many celebrations involve large meals, festive treats, and overeating, which can increase weight gain, cause indigestion, and promote feelings of lethargy, impacting overall health. 

So, if we were to define being healthy at Christmas, then it's about nurturing your mental, physical, and social health. It involves staying on track with all areas of your health and setting healthy habits to prevent you from falling astray. 

Christmas health and wellbeing top tips to consider

Before jumping directly into our favourite Christmas workouts, let's look at a few top tips to help you stay healthy this season. In addition to Christmas workouts, try doing the following:

• Make smarter food choices: Opt for natural foods and lean proteins and enjoy unhealthy foods in moderation.

• Be mindful of your eating: Try to stick to the 80/20 rule: Eat until you're 80% full, and slowly eat your food to feel fuller.

• Get sufficient sleep: Try to sleep 7-9 hours every night to reduce sleep quality and overall health.

• Drink alcohol in moderation: While it's ok to drink a lot of alcohol at Christmas time, too much can cause dehydration and unwanted calories. 

• Be mindful of your socialising: Amongst all of the festive gatherings, take time out for moments of solitude.

7 Christmas fitness workouts to consider

If you noticed in the last section, we left out the exercise purely because it's an area that should be on its own and noticed at Christmas. To help you stay on track and up to speed with your workouts, here are 7 different types that can complement your Christmas health and wellbeing:

1.Running 

All of us at Go Nutrition LOVE running. We cannot stress its benefits enough! When it comes to Christmas fitness workouts, running can be a great option. This is partly because if your local gym is closed, you can simply hit the road or trails.

Running is free and can be done from anywhere at any time, which means if you have any Christmas commitments lined up, you can simply go for a run quickly and return home before jumping into them. 

2. Bodyweight exercises

Next up are bodyweight exercises! These are great to do during the festive season as no special equipment is required, making them suitable for doing at home, outdoors, in a hotel room, or at a relative's place.

Bodyweight exercises are also cost-effective, and there are a ton of them on YouTube. They are also time-efficient! The great factor about bodyweight exercises is that they can be squeezed in as low as 10-20 minutes—ideal with a busy schedule. You don't need to dedicate significant time to these workouts. 

3. Yoga

Technically, yoga falls within bodyweight exercises but also deserves a subsection. Doing yoga during this winter season provides many health benefits that can make you enjoy Christmas time even more.

In addition to getting in shape, yoga can alleviate that extra winter stiffness due to the flexibility it helps to enhance, along with strength and energy levels. Don't forget that the mental side of yoga helps you focus on the present moment, escaping from the chaos of gatherings, shopping, and holiday preparations. 

4. High-intensity interval training (HIIT)

HIIT workouts are great for Christmas time as they're time-efficient. Because they're high-intensity, many of the workouts are short, lasting between 20 and 30 minutes, helping you stay active without giving up a lot of time. Again, you don't need a gym, only a small space and many workouts are available on YouTube. 

5. Festive strength training

Strength training is one of the best ways to burn those Christmas calories and excess fat. Though it burns fewer calories than cardiovascular workouts like running or HIIT exercise, you target your muscle groups when you undergo resistance training. Muscles have a higher metabolic rate than fat, so your muscles will still burn calories and blast fat levels after your workout. So, try to go to a local gym this festive season. 

6. Swimming 

If you live on the coast or next to an outdoor swimming pool, try swimming more this festive season. Swimming is a fantastic way to stay in shape; it's a full-body workout that targets important muscle groups.

It's also a fantastic way to maintain cardiovascular health, support your heart and lungs, lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and help burn calories during this Christmas time! Plus, if you live next to a beach, then, of course, this exercise is completely free!

7. Focus on functional 

Doing functional exercises in the gym, such as squats, lunges, pushups, kettlebell swings, deadlifts, pullups, and more, can not only help you stay in shape but also prevent injuries during the holiday season.

Whether decorating, lifting shopping bags, playing with children, or doing other activities, all require a combination of strength, balance, and concentration. Doing these exercises can help reduce the risk of overtraining and injury. 

Christmas fitness workouts- the bottom line 

Finally, to stay in shape this festive season, remember to do some form of exercise and stay consistent. Christmas fitness workouts throughout the month of December are crucial to help you stay on track, alongside eating in moderation and taking well-deserved moments to recuperate from social events. 

But remember, it's perfectly okay to enjoy Christmas amongst all of this! While it's important to keep up with your fitness and healthy habits, it's also okay to indulge and enjoy this season. 

After all, you're only human.

To help stay in check and make the most of this season, try following the 80/20 rule. 

Do you have a fitness resolution for the new year? Check out our top tips for setting weight loss goals for the new year.