Nowadays, it’s hard to flip past the first page of a magazine and avoid the sudden anxiety to lose weight or modify your body. Appearance seems to motivate a lot of young adults; but exercise’s priority is to make you feel good about yourself, not what other people think. Even models and celebrities have days off – me time is equally as important to allow your body to recover; and with the holidays approaching – Mum’s extra long shopping list is making me too excited – you can’t miss out on endless mince pies and a chocolate mule log!
This is why, with dark nights, mornings – afternoons too for those who sleep through the day – you can stick to home exercises or shift your gym session to the following day. That way you don’t have to snooze your alarm and that latte is suddenly giving you energy! I know how painful the idea of leaving your warm house is, so go when the time is right and your body is ready.
A great exercise regime I find handy for a quick twenty minutes is as follows (to really motivate yourself, whack on a Christmas playlist).
1) Begin with doing a set of twenty squats followed immediately into twenty jumping squats.
2) Lunges… Do ten alternating on each leg and then jumping lunges so you land with your left/right leg in front, lunge before jumping up and landing on the other leg.
3) Next, punch – the air, no bruises please – alternatively with your right and left arm in a set of twenty, where one episode is after both your right and left punch.
4) No time for a quick facebook break – get straight into press up position, on your knees or on your toes, and aim to do ten to fifteen.
5) Turn over onto your back and do twenty sit-ups. Remember to pull in your abs to raise your top half instead of straining your neck or using your arms to lift yourself up.
6) To get into the Christmas mood, star jumps will raise your heartbeat instantly. Do fifty non stop!
7) After these try fifty mountain climbers (one rep is after only one leg): Start in plank position but with your hands on the ground and your bum in the air. Move your right knee to your left elbow and back to the floor before moving your left knee to your right elbow and now add some speed!
8) Nearly there – hold your body in plank position for thirty seconds; and then finally move straight into a right/left side plank. Do this by holding your body on your left elbow first so you are sloping downwards from your head to your toes (keeping the bend of your arm at 90-degrees) and keeping your body straight. Hold for thirty seconds and repeat on the other side.
If you want to make the workout more intense, repeat all of these exercises again to double the toning and calorie burn!
I don’t know about you, but I definitely feel a bit lazier towards the end of term – I prefer to be snuggled up in a Christmas jumper – and for those who agree, we should never feel guilty! We have every excuse to just say no to a morning run or gym class, especially with deadlines and all the brain power you use in the day… So although there are constant reminders of celebrity’s staying fit every day or being celebrated for losing that extra 2lbs – I admit, it’s hard not to envy them – you have to work around your body and personal preferences.
Take advantage of days when you can laze about and watch The Grinch in bed and book in for Spinning when you know you’ll give it your all. Christmas is the season to be jolly, so enjoy it whilst it lasts. With your body confidence and healthy – and delicious – diet, you’ll be looking and feeling great on the inside and out!!
Edited by Ili Mustafa