Day 5: Keeping on Track During the Holidays

With the arrival of the holidays comes old family traditions. For most people, this will include lots of baking, lazing around, and big meals. The hours in a day get consumed by spending time with family and friends; finding time to exercise is often the last thing on your mind. So how do you avoid getting off track?

Here are some tricks for avoiding the post-holidays weight gain blues:

1. Holiday shopping. Although this may seem like a counter-intuitive concept, holiday shopping can be beneficial to exercising. Park your car in the farthest spot from the door that you feel comfortable with. The environment will thank you for not circling the lot 15 times to get that spot 20 feet closer to the door. Worried about having to carry your purchases? Think of it as weight-lifting! And make sure to bring reusable cloth bags which are more durable and environmentally friendly.

2. This one is going to seem ridiculous but give it a shot. When decorating your tree, try putting your box of ornaments down the hall or in another room. The walking back and forth will burn calories and give you a new vantage point of how your tree is coming along. You laugh now, but seriously, give it a try!

3. Make use of those fantastic outdoor winter sports. Skating, tobogganing, and snowshoeing are all great ways to enjoy yourself in the winter. It's easy to hibernate the winter away indoors under blankets, but once you give these activities a shot, you'll realize how good the fresh air and exercise feel. Getting your kids involved in these activities can be the start of a healthy lifestyle for the rest of their lives. Living in a climate like Winnipeg's means that you have to be willing to brave the cold to get the most out of your city. You'll soon acclimatize to the cold and find it invigorating rather than immobilizing. The holidays are usually a time when we get some time to spend with our families so spend some of those hours outdoors!

4. Lastly, try to stay calm by staying organized. The holidays often puts extra pressure on us, causing us to absentmindedly grab for whatever is nearest to eat. If you can anticipate some of what will stress you (last minute gift buying, big meal preparation, scouring the city for the toy your child has to have), and prepare early for whatever you can, you will feel more at ease during the holidays and more inclined to stay on track.