Squeezing Exercise into a Busy Holiday Schedule
Now is the time to create a mindset for keeping your body in shape during the hectic holiday season. Think about accumulating bits of activity during the course of each day. The consistency of doing "a little bit a lot" goes a long way to keeping you fit.
One suggestion is to take short walks. Got 10 minutes? Take a walk after breakfast, lunch or dinner – or all three. Imagine! that would total 30 minutes of walking. Do it most, at least five, days of the week. Studies prove that accumulating exercise in doses adds up to significant health and fitness benefits, including offsetting the extra pounds that typically accompany holiday festivities.
Here are a few other stretches and exercises you can work into your daily schedule:
In Bed
When you wake up in the morning, do a few full-body stretches before you even get out of bed. Reach out long 3 times, stretching your torso, arms and legs. Point and flex your feet 5-10 times. Sitting on the side of your bed, limber up with a few ankle circles, shoulder rolls and neck stretches.
In the Shower
The warm, humid air in the shower is the perfect place to do an efficient stretch for posture. Hold the two ends of a wash cloth in the "back scrub" position, one elbow bent up to the ceiling, hand reaching down your back; and the other arm rotated behind your back, with the hand reaching up. Use the wash cloth to pull the top hand down and the bottom hand up, alternating directions. Hold each position for 5-10 seconds and repeat on the other side.
Against the Wall
For upper and lower body strengthening, designate a wall in your home as your "push up station" and make it a point to do 10-15 push ups every other day. Then turn around, lean back against the wall and do 10-15 wall slides (make sure to plant your feet securely away from the wall so that when you slide down, your knees stay over your ankles and do not go beyond your toes).
Posted October 28, 2011.
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