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Five Fun Ways to Stay Fit Over the Holidays!

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Hilary Glassman Student Contributor, Bucknell University
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Sarah Dubow Student Contributor, Bucknell University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Bucknell chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

With a long break from school and the holidays right around the corner, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut with your workouts. It’s especially hard to stay motivated when Christmas carols are ringing throughout the house and the smell of fresh baked goodies is tempting you in the kitchen. Check out these five fun ways to stay active over the holidays so you can enjoy a few extra Christmas cookies without the extra guilt.

1. Sign up for Groupons

Register to receive Groupons in a city closest to you. Groupon is always offering discounts for different workout classes in your area. Grab your fitness buddy and sign up for a kickboxing class or boot camp! Plus you’ll be saving some money that you can use towards your holiday gift giving. A win-win! 

2. Get Outside!

This is the perfect time to take advantage of the beautiful outdoors that surround you. If you live near the mountains or a ski resort, plan a weekend of skiing, snowshoeing and peppermint hot cocoa. Take your friend on a hiking adventure or just take your pooch for a power-walk through the neighborhood. They need their exercise too! Whatever you do, just get outside and breathe in that fresh winter air!

3. Go Ice Skating

Is there anything more festive than ice-skating in the winter? The Christmas tree, the lights, the Christmas tunes and carolers…it’s the perfect recipe for some holiday fun and some light exercise. If there aren’t frozen ponds or lakes where you can strap on your skates, find an indoor ice rink nearby. Even if you’re not a particularly good skater, it’ll get you off the couch and get you moving! And if nothing else, someone is sure to have a serious wipeout that will provide a good laugh. 

4. Take a Yoga Class

This is just what you need to unwind from finals – cleanse your body of those toxins and get your zen on. Check out the studios near you to see if they offer a free weekly class that you can go to with your friends at no cost! Or you could try Lululemon – they usually offer classes in their store after hours. Shopping and downward-facing-dog all in one outing? Yes please!

5. Make Your Run Mean Something

The holidays are filled with 5k runs/walks and half marathons and they are usually dedicated to helping out good causes. Whether you spend the holidays training for a half marathon or decide last minute to do the local 5k, participating is good for you and your community!

So take your pick! Whether you’re outside or inside, these fun ways to stay active are sure to get you moving this holiday season. And maybe those delicious Christmas cookies are just the motivation you need.

Have a very merry holiday!

Sarah Dubow graduated from school in 2013 and is a Digital Strategist at Marina Maher Communications in New York City. After serving as Campus Correspondent at Bucknell University, she is so excited to continue being a part of the Her Campus team! Besides traversing the city and trying to figure out what being a "real person" really means, Sarah loves long walks on the beach, sipping pina coladas, and getting caught in the rain (kidding!). Real favorites include traveling, writing, kickboxing, and making up ridiculous lyrics to the latest songs. She absolutely loves anything that involves cupcakes, butterflies, glitter, and anything Parisian and specializes in baking with far too much chocolate and obsessively watching shows bound to be cancelled after the first season. Though the long term path for this post-grad collegiette remains unclear, she's looking forward to all the new 20-something adventures that await her!