Dubai: The holiday season is upon us but are you getting your workouts in? It’s natural to put your workouts on hold during the holiday season. Starting with Halloween and all the way to New Years Eve, most people put it off till the New Year, adding exercise and fitness to a long list of New Year resolutions. Unknown to most, falling out of a regular exercise cycle can lead to a plethora of health-related problems including weight gain, higher stress levels and poor eating habits. For many UAE residents, globetrotting to an exciting winter holiday destination is the definition of a perfect festive season.
There will be days when you indulge in one too many pieces of cake and you will miss your workouts. Don’t kick yourself, instead, follow easy to do home mat exercises and a routine to stay on track.
Schedule your exercise sessions every day and make sure you go. Early morning workouts are the perfect tactic to ensure that you get your workouts out of the way first thing in the morning. It is so easy for other holiday obligations to interfere with your exercise routine when you wait until the later day hours.
Eating a huge salad filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts before you leave for a holiday dinner has amazing benefits. It can leave you feeling full and makes it less likely you will overindulge on other goodies.
Don’t hang out at the food table during a party: You are less likely to over indulge if you get a plate and walk away.
Don’t drink all your calories: Avoid drinks that are high in calories, like - eggnog, apple cider and beverages, since these can quickly add to your daily caloric consumption.
Schedule some of your family excursions to include a little movement: Exercise with the entire family.
There are some simple pilates moves you can try for the holiday season.Swimming Prep is an excellent exercise to improve core stability and strengthen shoulder girdle. Sidekicks are great for building core stability while strengthening your thighs, especially your glutes. And the tricep dip uses your body weight to strengthen and tone your triceps, which are very useful muscles needed for everyday functional movements.
- The writer is founder and managing director at Real Pilates
