How to Sneak in a Holiday Workout

It’s that time of year again – the holidays. Whether you love them or have a little bit of a fear in your heart about getting together with your whole family, this time of year has an abundance of many things – but one of them isn’t time. Between travel, parties, work, and family obligations, the holidays can throw a wrench into your otherwise healthy lifestyle. But there are ways to fight back. Los Angeles personal trainer Lalo Fuentes has these suggestions to help you sneak in a holiday workout!

Fly Fit

If you’re going to be stuck in the airport for any amount of time during the holiday season, use the time to get a workout in! Walk through the terminals, lift your carry-on bag for some strength training, or even find a quiet corner and practice some yoga. It’ll help take your mind off the comparisons you want to make between the airport and Dante’s Inferno, helping to reduce your stress and keep you centered.

Reduce Your Workout Routine

You can’t always have it all and if you’re short on time or you have to use the time you normally would work out to fulfill other commitment, then just abridge your workout routine so you can get a little bit in. “If you’re used to running five miles a day or lifting weights for two hours at the gym, you need to shorten it,” says Los Angeles personal trainer Lalo Fuentes, CSCS, “make your workout just as intense, just shorter in duration to help you get through.”

So, instead of running five miles, try 20 minutes of interval sprint work. Or if you’re used to weightlifting, try fewer sets but more reps to get the intensity in. You won’t have to do this forever, but it’s important to keep a little bit of your routine in place even when you’re short on time.

Discover Jump Rope

When was the last time you jumped rope? Yeah, it’s probably been a while, but many trainers in Los Angeles know just how handy a jump rope can be to squeeze in some great cardio without a ton of equipment. Plus, it’s easy to take with you if you’re traveling and can be used just about anywhere. Jumping rope helps to work your legs and get that heart pumping, so remember it when you’re trying to work some movement into your day.

Plan Ahead

If you have a particular exercise plan in mind, then you’ll be more likely to stick with it. Write down your workout goals over the holidays and then try to stick with it as much as you can. It can be helpful to practice the routine in the weeks leading up to crunch time, that way you’ll be prepared before you leave so you can get it done on the go.

The holiday season can present a lot of challenges to your workout routine, but if you let your Los Angeles personal trainer help you plan, it’ll just be a small bump in the road to your final destination of optimal health and fitness!