5 Exercise Tips for a Healthy Holiday

When the holidays roll around, it’s easy to be tempted by sweet indulgences and festive foods. It’s also really easy to overeat. While you should by all means enjoy this holiday season, there are a few ways you can make this year a bit healthier.

After all, no one wants to enter the new year a few pounds up from where they started. Plus, excess weight is associated with various life-threatening diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. So, how can you incorporate more exercise in your routine?

Below, our doctors at Tampa Spine and Wellness offer a few tips and tricks so you can stay happy and healthy this holiday season!

Tip #1: Take Advantage of HIIT Workouts.

The holidays are a great time to use HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) to your advantage. A major hurdle a lot of people have, especially this time of year, is time. Yet, HIIT can offer short spurts to keep your strength and cardio up. After all, even a 15-20 minute workout is better than no workout at all.

However, it’s also important to remember here that recovery is important. Back-to-back HIIT workouts can result in lower recovery and burnout. If you choose to perform HIIT sessions, try alternating days. Instead, you can go for a walk on your “off days” for active recovery.

Tip #2: Plan Ahead.

During such a busy time of year it’s imperative to plan ahead. Schedule your workouts into your calendar. This will increase your odds of success. And most importantly, stick with your plan; Make promises to yourself and keep them.

Tip #3: Get Your Steps In!

Walking is one of the most underrated forms of exercise. Research even shows that it doesn’t matter how fast or slow you walk; walking is advantageous for weight loss at all paces.

One study further showed walking 50-70 minutes per week for three weeks led to reduced belly fat. This means that even just four to five 15-minute walks can do your body and health wonders!

Tip #4: Remove the Guilt.

Because gyms may be closed due to the holidays, you might miss a workout or two. However, this isn’t an opportunity to beat yourself up.

Instead, simply do the best you can. On these days, it’s an excellent opportunity to try a new home workout or take the whole family on a walk or hike for some much-needed quality time. Stick to your routine when you can, but don’t worry about things outside of your control, such as the gym being closed.

Tip #5: Wear a Fitness Tracker.

The data doesn’t lie!

Wearing a fitness tracker, such as a Fitbit or Garmin Watch, can help you determine how much you are actually moving throughout your holidays. These trackers will not only report the number of steps you take but also how long you spend in the different heart rate zones.

They can further motivate you to move more. There’s even settings where the watches, particularly Fitbit, will vibrate when you’ve been sedentary for too long.

Take Your Wellness to the Next Level With Chiropractic Care!

If you want to continue your wellness journey and have been curious about chiropractic care in Tampa, our spine doctors are here to help. With some of the best chiropractors in Tampa, our team is dedicated to improving our entire community’s health and wellness. Book your appointment and begin your chiropractic journey today.