Enjoy the holiday season without sacrificing fitness
The advice comes from Central Illinois health and fitness professionals, who would prefer that people start or maintain an exercise program amid the busyness of the holiday season. But they realize that’s unrealistic as even dedicated Central Illinois exercisers can’t always keep up their routines between Black Friday and New Year’s Day.
So, when you can’t do an entire workout, “go for the 15,” said Allison Wholf, wellness specialist at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Normal. Advocating the same approach were Erin Kennedy, director of OSF St. Joseph Medical Center’s Center for Healthy Lifestyles, and Mike Trotter, lead fitness director at Gold’s Gym.
Here’s what they mean: Each day, find at least 15 minutes for dedicated exercise.
“Squeezing in 15 minutes of exercise a day is better than no exercise at all,” Kennedy said.
The goal is to get your heart rate up.
Here are examples from Kennedy, Trotter and Wholf of simple, 15-minute mini-workouts that can be done as breaks during even the busiest of days:
– Walk up and down the stairs at home, work or the store.
– Do squats (using a chair for support), jumping jacks, situps, crunches, lunges or other simple callisthenics.