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Working out during the busy holiday season can be challenging. For many of us, it is a colder time of year that limits outdoor activity. For some great ideas on how to find the time and motivation, read this post from the BODi Blog by Kate Bayless<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Even if you normally stick to a pretty consistent workout schedule, this time of year can throw all kinds of wrenches into your training plan.<\/p>\n Between\u00a0gift shopping, party hopping, and bubbly popping, it can be hard to\u00a0fit in fitness\u00a0during the holiday season.<\/p>\n The good news?<\/p>\n While finding time to exercise during the holidays can be tough, it\u2019s not impossible \u2014 and when the\u00a0holiday stress\u00a0sets in (and the number of sugar cookies you\u2019ve consumed starts adding up) you\u2019ll be\u00a0extra<\/i>\u00a0glad you crushed those sweat sessions.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve gathered the best tips and tricks to help you squeeze fitness into your hectic holiday plans.<\/p>\n The holiday season is full of happy hours, festive dinner parties, and late-night gift-wrapping sessions.<\/p>\n Notice a trend? There\u2019s not much going on in the A.M. \u2014 so\u00a0exercising in the morning\u00a0can prevent your workouts from getting derailed by holidays plans.<\/p>\n \u201cBegin your day with a workout,\u201d says\u00a0Kara Tatelbaum<\/a>, author and founder of Lazy Girl Pilates. \u201cWhether that means\u00a0yoga poses\u00a0before breakfast or a quick run around the block \u2014 make use of this time each morning to move your body.\u201d<\/p>\n You likely won\u2019t\u00a0find<\/i>\u00a0time to exercise, so you\u2019ll have to\u00a0make<\/i>\u00a0time.<\/p>\n Put your workouts on your schedule \u2014 just like all of your other holiday commitments \u2014 so they\u2019re less likely to get pushed to the back burner.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve committed to your workouts, do what it takes to make them happen, says\u00a0Kyra Williams<\/a>, an NASM-certified personal trainer and USA Powerlifting coach.<\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps that means using your lunch break to fit in a walk or skipping the last glass of wine at the end of the night to make it easier to get up for your morning workout. If you make exercise a priority, then you will get it done,\u201d advises Williams.<\/p>\n We get it \u2014 you don\u2019t want to skip your favorite holiday traditions for the sake of squeezing in a workout.<\/p>\n But why not find a fun physical activity that can become a new tradition for your friends and family?<\/p>\n \u201cGet all of your girlfriends together for a spin class, or sign up your family for a\u00a0Turkey Trot,\u201d suggests\u00a0Erin Wathen<\/a>, a certified weight loss coach and author of\u00a0Why Can\u2019t I Stick to My Diet?<\/i><\/p>\n You\u2019ll be able to fit in exercise without feeling like you\u2019re sacrificing time with your favorite people.<\/p>\n \u201cFew things bond people better than sweat,\u201d says Trevor Thieme, C.S.C.S. \u201cInstead of sitting around watching holiday specials on TV, organize a hike or a game of touch football.\u201d<\/p>\n Bonus: You\u2019ll all be\u00a0in a better mood<\/a>\u00a0around the dinner table.<\/p>\n Everyone struggles with staying on track during the holiday season, so find a\u00a0like-minded friend\u00a0and schedule workouts together so you can hold each other accountable.<\/p>\n Whether you plan to\u00a0go for a run\u00a0or do an early-morning\u00a0HIIT session, it\u2019s much harder to skip a workout when you know someone is waiting for you.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you can\u2019t meet in person, FaceTime works too,\u201d Tatelbaum says. \u201cIt\u2019s an awesome way to stay connected across states with family and friends.\u201d<\/p>\n Pop in those headphones, start a video chat with your bestie, and log your steps together.<\/p>\n For most of us, December isn\u2019t an ideal time to try to lose 10 pounds,\u00a0train for a half-marathon, or\u00a0attempt a cleanse.<\/p>\n The holidays are hectic enough, so it\u2019s okay to keep your goals low-key right now \u2014 like\u00a0hitting your 10,000 step target\u00a0or getting 30 minutes of physical activity each day.<\/p>\n \u201cKeep in mind the average\u00a0holiday weight gain<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0is just one pound,\u201d Thieme says. \u201cSo you likely won\u2019t have all that much to \u2018work off\u2019 in the new year, even if you let things slide more than you intended.\u201d<\/p>\n Focus on the big picture, and don\u2019t beat yourself up if you miss a workout or\u00a0have a second piece of pie.<\/p>\n Holiday plans can throw your usual workout schedule for a loop, so flexibility is key.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re used to going to the gym, but you have no idea how that\u2019s going to happen this holiday season, try something new,\u201d suggests Shanda Domango, a NASM-certified personal trainer and health coach at Domango Training.<\/p>\n That could mean switching from an after-work spin class to a lunchtime\u00a0bootcamp\u00a0for the next few weeks, or using a streaming fitness subscription so you can work out whenever and wherever you have the time and space.<\/p>\n When it comes to increasing your fitness level, workout density is more important than duration.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s really no need to spend hours in a gym if you\u2019re not there to socialize,\u201d says Thieme. \u201cShortening your rest periods, focusing primarily on\u00a0compound exercises\u00a0(like the\u00a0squat,\u00a0deadlift,\u00a0pull-up, dip, and\u00a0bench press) instead of isolation exercises (like the\u00a0dumbbell curl\u00a0or\u00a0tricep extension). Doing supersets and\/or circuits instead of traditional weightlifting sets will save you time and help you become fitter faster.\u201d<\/p>\n Can\u2019t find time for an hour-long workout? No worries \u2014 focus on fitting in shorter bouts of exercise here and there throughout the day.<\/p>\n \u201cSet up two or three\u00a010-minute workouts,\u201d recommends\u00a0Cary Williams<\/a>, an Olympic-level boxing coach and owner of The Stables boxing studio in Santa Monica, CA.\u00a0<\/b>\u201cThis can include squats, walking lunges, fast walking, and even just getting up and down from your chair a bunch of times [a.k.a. squatting].\u201d<\/p>\n And don\u2019t overlook opportunities to squeeze in bursts of activity during holiday prep.<\/p>\n Power clean your home before your holiday guests arrive. Fast-walk the mall rather than shopping online. Do a set of 30\u00a0bodyweight lunges\u00a0while you\u2019re checking on your holiday ham in the oven.<\/p>\n1. Embrace the Morning Workout<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n2. Put Your Workouts on the Calendar<\/h2>\n
3. Make Fitness a Family Tradition<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n4. Find a Holiday Accountability Buddy<\/h2>\n
5. Set Realistic Expectations<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n6. Be Flexible<\/h2>\n
7. Condense Your Workouts<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n8. Nix the All-Or-Nothing Approach<\/h2>\n