Page 14 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • December 3, 2014 How to maintain workout routines during the holidays Between decking the halls, visiting family, and attending holiday parties, it may seem like there is little time to maintain a workout routine during the holiday season. While the holiday season is an especially busy time of year, men and women who plan and stay dedicated to their routines do not need to let their health fall by the way- side until January. Several studies show that people can gain anywhere from one pound to a few pounds between Thanksgiving and Christ- mas. Although that might not seem like a lot of weight, a report in “The New Eng- land Journal of Medicine” noted that many people never lose the weight they put on during the holidays. Those who struggle to keep the weight off understand the importance of maintain- ing both a consistent fitness schedule and healthy eating habits. This may be chal- lenging when the rich foods and parties synonymous with the holiday season are around to threaten healthy habits. Here’s how to stay on course. Establish a regular exercise date. Treat exercise as any other obligation on the cal- endar. Make it a necessity and not a luxury. Schedule time for workouts, even if that means removing something else from the agenda. Don’t worry about the length of the workout. Those who are accustomed to an hour workout but cannot fit in more than 20 minutes on some days should not skip the workout simply because it will be shorter. Make the most of that time by tar- geting larger, core muscles. Make a scheduling change to fit in gym workouts or other exercise. Try getting up earlier and heading out prior to work or school. This will open up time throughout the rest of the day, and that time can be used to meet the demands of the holiday season. Get a trainer or a workout buddy. It is far easier to blow off a workout when going it alone. A workout partner can help keep motivation levels high. Try new activities. Workouts need not be limited to exercises in the gym. Plenty of activities work the body and burn calo- ries. Sledding, ice skating, skiing, and snowboarding are just a few winter sports that help people stay in shape. Choose a hotel with a pool or gym. When traveling for the holidays, select a hotel that has fitness equipment. Even swimming a few laps in an indoor pool can provide a cardiovascular workout. Remember, it only takes a two-week break from exercise to experience a fitness regression. Add short, high-intensity exercises to burn more calories in less time. Transform chores into exercise oppor- tunities. See that vacuum cleaner, rake, or broom as a piece of exercise equipment. While cleaning up for holiday company, turn on the radio and get that heart pump- ing. Do leg raises while preparing meals or do some pushups off of the kitchen coun- ter. Those who cannot make it to the gym can rely on their own body resistance for a thorough workout. Pushups, squats, moun- tain climbers, jumping rope, and lunges are some exercises that rely on bodyweight for effectiveness. Periodically exercise during the day. When there are a few free moments here and there during the day, use these oppor- tunities to exercise. It is possible to squeeze in an entire workout’s worth of exercise over the course of several 10-minute inter- vals. Exercise and fitness do not have to play second fiddle to other holiday activities. Make time for workouts, and be ahead of the game come the New Year.