The holidays are filled with fun, family, and food, but unfortunately, not with a lot of physical activity. Finding ways to maintain your exercise routine and get your family up and moving will help you de-stress and provide a fun alternative to the usual “couch potato” monotony of a family visit.
Finding Time for Fitness at Home
If you’re staying home for the holidays, take a break from your usual fitness routine and try something new:
Schedule a joint workout session with a friend, ahead of time. Keeping your appointment with your friend will give you an excuse to escape the family for a few hours!
Set your alarm for an early morning walk or jog.
Treat yourself to a yoga or Pilates video that you can pop into the VCR in your bedroom before everyone else awakens.
Book a tennis, racquetball, or squash court with a friend.
Getting Active with the Family
Look for creative ways to get the family up and moving:
Bundle everyone up for a walk after dinner to look at the neighborhood holiday lights and decorations.
Insist on visiting the department store at the far end of the mall.
If you live within walking distance of a nice café or restaurant, walk to lunch or dinner. If not everyone wants to walk, let someone drive and meet you there.
Take the kids ice-skating or roller-skating and lace up!
Park at the farthest corner of the lot at the mall.
Schedule a family tennis, basketball, or badminton tournament.
Build a snowman or go cross-country skiing.
Take everyone for nine holes of golf at a par three golf course.
Staying Fit on the Road
Staying with family over the holidays makes it especially challenging to find time (and equipment) for exercise, as well as eat healthy. Plan ahead and be creative:
Check online for nearby fitness centers. Most usually have a nominal fee for a day pass. Try http://www.healthclubs.com/.
Plot out a walking or running route. Check out http://www.runtheplanet.com/ for routes in cities throughout the US. Didn’t find anything nearby? Then plot your own route and submit it to the site!
Bring exercise bands and an “in-room” workout program.
Plan on early morning exercise, before everyone expects to see you at the breakfast table.
Bring or make a healthy side-dish or dessert to the family dinner.
Pack healthy snacks or plan a stop at the grocery store on your way into town.
Karen is the owner and founder of Healthy Travel Network (www.healthytravelnetwork.com), the only company focused exclusively on helping business travelers stay fit. Healthy Travel Network provides portable fitness equipment, diet and nutrition tips, and exercise guides for business travelers. Free newsletter, free hotel gym listings, and other tools for keeping business travelers fit.
