Easy Holiday Exercise Plans to Help You Stay Trim

The tree isn't the only thing worth trimming this holiday season. With Thanksgiving around the corner, and Christmas about a month and a half away, we have our eyes set on delicious desserts, creamy side dishes, and lots and lots of food.

While you may be eating twice the amount of calories that you normally would, there is no reason for you to skimp on your exercise regime. In fact, it is more of a reason to make sure that you get some exercise so that Grandma's stick-to-your-ribs casserole, doesn't literally stick to your ribs. Here are some simple tips to help you stay active throughout the holiday season.

Wake Up Early

Try waking up before everyone else. This may seem like a no-brainer, but if you wake up an hour before the majority of your holiday guests wake up, you will be able to get in a nice 45-minute jog around the neighborhood and still have time to take a quick shower without missing out on anything. Figure out how to exercise without visiting the gym in order to make this work best for your lifestyle.

Help in the Kitchen

It's amazing how many calories you actually burn in the kitchen. Baking alone, can burn up to 200 calories per hour, and usually when you're cooking, you're less likely to eat more at the table because you're taking little tastes here and there in the kitchen. Have you ever been in the kitchen during holiday preparations? They don't lie when they say that blood, sweat, and tears went into preparing this meal. Try to keep it healthy by incorporating omega-3 fatty acids into your meal.

Volunteer to Play with the Kids

If you're someone who's good with kids, volunteer to play with them. Kids are by nature active, hyper, and are constantly moving. Surrounding yourself with active people, much less children who require your attention and keep your heart rate up, will make sure that you're burning those extra calories. Figure out some fun activities that promote physical fitness.

Encourage the Family to Partake in Activities

Flag football? Family walks? A quick game of hide-and-seek? Encourage your family to avoid the after-dinner naps and to get out and do something active. Even a 20 minute walk after a big meal can make the heavy food less likely to go straight to your thighs, stomach, or wherever else you are prone to gaining weight.