Friday Fitness: Exercise – The New Holiday Tradition

For many of us, the holidays are a time to get together with friends and family. We laugh, tell stories, give presents, and of course eat. The average American says they think they gain around 5 pounds during the holiday season. Let us be the exception! The holidays do not have to mean weight gain—only if we allow them to. Why not add to the list of family traditions, some physical activity! Remember that it is not all or nothing. It is not the food we eat that we remember, it is the people we are with and the things that we do together that we remembered throughout the years. Below are a few ideas for activities that you can do and recruit the family to join in on—enjoy the holidays!

1. Incorporate the thermal walk after your big holiday meal. Remember one of the ideas behind the thermal walk is to carry the conversation away from the dinner table. Instead of sitting around and picking at food when you are no longer hungry, take the family out for a walk. Make this a new holiday tradition.
2. Get some physical activity and spread the holiday cheer by shoveling the snow on your driveway and neighbor’s too!
3. Make healthy treats such as a trail mix and walk these treats over to your neighbors.
4. Spend 30 minutes cleaning up the house of wrapping paper and toys.
5. Offer to wash and put away the dishes.
6. Find a local 5k or fun run/walk to participate in with the family.
7. Play a game of touch football in the backyard.
8. Go ice skating.

Here are some ideas for those lucky enough to have a white Christmas:

• Sledding

• Building a snowman

• Starting a snowball fight

• Making snow angles

Happy Holidays from H3!