Christmas is approaching fast, and lots of people not only tend to ruin their usual diets, but they also gain a few extra pounds. This is indeed a great time to enjoy and to have fun. But many of you may have already realised that it is a challenge to keep fit over Christmas because of all the fun, celebration, and togetherness.

In fact, you may be wondering how some people manage to maintain their fitness levels despite the temptations all around. Excessive eating is claimed to be the main cause for the additional weight gain, but it is also due to lack of physical activity and exercise. A lot of individuals out there tend to set aside their fitness routines during the holidays since they believe that they do not have enough time to perform their workouts. And because they feel guilty after the holiday season, most of the gyms and fitness centers are packed with fresh members.

Here are some easy tips on how to keep fit over Christmas.

fit over Christmas

Eat Before Heading Out

First, it is best that you eat something before heading out to visits, trips or family dinners. By doing so, you will no longer be tempted to eat a lot or overindulge yourself since you have already eaten. Skipping on meals is not a good idea either, because you will only be forced to eat more later.

Keep fit over Christmas: Select The Treats

Make sure to select the treats that you eat in a wise manner. You should choose something that you can only enjoy during the holiday season and not something that is readily available all the time.

Avoid Skipping Meals

Even though it can be tempting to skip on certain meals, believing that it will make up for the treats you consumed in the previous day, don’t do it because it will only lead to counterproductive results. Don’t skip meals, especially breakfast! Breakfast is something that you really shouldn’t neglect to be fit over Christmas, however busy you get. It’s so important for energy and general wellbeing. Start the day with a wholesome breakfast and not only will you have enough fuel to get you going, but you’ll also be far more likely to exercise and eat well during the rest of the day, too.

Drink With Moderation

If you want to keep fit over Christmas it is best to regulate your drinking since alcohol, coke or other juices will only add more calories to the ones you already eaten. People are always surprised when they find out how many calories and how much sugar there is in their favorite alcoholic drinks. Sure, we’ve all heard of the dreaded beer belly, but that’s just beer, right? Unfortunately not. A glass of red wine can have up to 200 calories. Have the odd glass of wine, or beer, but try to drink spirits with a slimline tonic, and drink a glass of water between each alcoholic drink.

Drink a lot of Water to keep fit over Christmas

This can satiate your appetite as well as keep you hydrated at all times. And it will also prevent a possible hangover if you overdo it with alcohol.

Get Out Of The House

Make the holidays a family affair and plan outdoor activities where everyone is involved to keep fit over Christmas. Even a snowball fight in the backyard will burn a lot of calories and will keep the children entertained.

Stick to a realistic workout routine

Obviously, if you’re a gym-goer already, sticking to your usual routine can seem difficult. Set yourself realistic goals instead of thinking that you’ll go every day. Going for half an hour to an hour just three days a week will leave you feeling satisfied and happy, rather than being disappointed when you missed your fifth two-hour workout that the week. You still need time to socialise and not miss out on the fun, but you can’t completely abandon your workout ethic.

Work on the muscle

To keep fit over Christmas be stick to your strength and muscle workouts, because losing any muscle mass will counteract all the hard work you’ve put in all year. Ten to fifteen minutes of cardio at the beginning of each workout can easily be enough for the festive season. Once the cardio is over, focusing on the arm, back and leg muscles for half an hour can conclude the workout.

You haven’t overdone it and you still have time to see your mates after.Think about what time of the day you do the workouts as well as what you do in them. Morning workouts, while everyone’s still asleep and hungover, won’t have you feeling like you’re missing out, plus it’s always a good idea to sweat out the alcohol you drank the night before.

So there you go! Follow our simple tips that will help you to keep fit over Christmas, but will also allow you to enjoy yourself and have a great time with your loved ones.