The Festive Season can play havoc with your diet and exercise routines. With busy schedules, indulgent meals and festivities, it’s not surprising that our fitness often gets neglected. But there are ways to enjoy the celebrations and maintain focus. Former Springbok rugby player Stefan Terblanche shares five fitness ideas that you can squeeze in without missing out on the fun.
1 Mix it up
Rest is vital for our bodies, so don’t be concerned about reducing or taking a break from your regular routine. Do something different and you may be surprised at how well your body reacts. I do this often, even during the year. For instance, when you are in a new town take part in their Parkrun. Also, look online to see if there are any other events in the area. You may end up doing something out of your comfort zone and having lots of fun!
2 Play with the kids
During the holiday season, you’re probably going to be around more children, whether they are your own or other people’s. Feed off their excitement and take them to the beach or park for a walk. This is a great form of exercise and you’ll be surprised at the end of the day just how many steps you’ve done. So take advantage of children’s boundless energy — their health and wellbeing is also important and exercising with them is an excellent way to get them fit, while instilling in them great values and habits.
3. Smash it with a HIIT workout
Even if your schedule is hectic, you should be able to squeeze in a snappy, simple 20- to 30-minute workout each day, and that’s all you need. Try High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). These short bursts of exercise give you a maximum-effort micro workout with a fast recovery time. HIIT sessions burn more calories than longer workouts and there are lots of different programmes available online. Pick one (or more) and work this training into your morning or evening routine.
4. Create an improvised gym
If you’re away from home, create a workout circuit in the back garden or at the beach. You don’t need any equipment, just your body weight. Alternate running or skipping with fat-burning, muscle-building exercises such as push-ups, squats, star jumps, crunches, lunges and burpees. You could even bench press the kids!
5. Organise a family 5km
Share your infectious energy for exercise with your family by organising a fun run or walk. Though running gets a bad rap from many, it is still one of the best full-body workouts and, depending on your family’s fitness and age, you can scale it up or down. You can also put in some extra work by scooping up the kids when they get tired. You may just start a family tradition.
Whatever you do to improvise an exercise routine this holiday season, remember to look after your body from the inside out with the right diet and supplements.
Follow Stefan on Instragram @stefant15 for more training tips and programmes.
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