During the Holidays, Will Your Exercise Routine by Naughty or Nice?

By Diane Del Toro

From the first forkful of mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving Day to the last hors d’oeuvre on New Year’s Eve, you may find it tempting to set aside your daily workout, promising that you will take it up again after January 1. But research shows that when regular exercise stops, muscles weaken, motivation plummets, and fitness declines. In simple terms, you’ve got to use it or lose it!

Rather than cutting out your exercise routine altogether during the holidays, find ways to modify it. Whether you reduce the time of each session, cut back to one or two workouts a week, or squeeze in a few minutes of exercise between holiday activities, you’ll find that jumping back into your regular exercise routine after the first of the year is much easier when you have kept some momentum going.

There are a number of reasons why exercise can be a valuable tool to get you through the stresses and difficulties that are present in everyone’s lives during this time of year. Here are three:

Structure

Weight gain, anxiety, and depression during the holidays are often the byproduct of the hectic demands of the season. Maintaining your routine in this one area of your life may be enough to keep you on track with your sleep schedule and your caloric intake, and it will keep stress and anxiety at bay. Setting aside time each day for exercise increases the feeling of being “present” and in control of your daily decisions, small and large, that seem to increase exponentially this time of year.

Weight Gain

It is so easy to put on pounds during the holidays! Exercise can combat weight gain by burning calories, but even more importantly, it maintains muscle mass, which raises the metabolic rate. Daily exercise also helps increase your awareness of the amount of high-sugar, high-fat foods you consume.

Stress and Depression

Parties, family gatherings, shopping, food preparation, financial challenges, and schedule disruptions all contribute to a high level of stress. Additionally, the daylight hours get shorter as the calendar approaches the winter solstice (this year on December 21). Less sunlight and shorter days are linked to a chemical change in the brain and may be part of the cause of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD causes some degree of depression in up to 20 percent of the adult population and interestingly, is four times more common in women than in men. Exercise activates feel-good neurotransmitters in the brain, produces endorphins, and increases blood flow, all of which combine to reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety and elevate mood.

In the excitement and bustle of the holiday season, don’t cross daily exercise off your list. Instead of being “naughty” with your regimen, maintain your routine or opt for modifications that will keep you on Santa’s “nice” list.