3 Easy Activities That Will Burn Off Those Excess Holiday Calories

By Ian Donnelly

Just thinking about holiday meals is enough to make you feel stuffed. From the addictive finger-foods to the mouthwatering desserts, it’s hard to avoid enjoying all the incredible cooking that happens when you get together with loved ones over the holiday—especially when Grandma insists that you take an extra helping of her sweet potatoes, which are prepared with a generous amount of brown sugar and pecans. Yes, it’s absolutely mouthwatering, but it is also very dangerous.

If there’s only one downside to all that quality family time, it’s the lack of gym visits that comes with it. It’s hard to pull yourself away from visiting with family and friends to go hit the machines, and if you’re traveling, it’s nearly impossible. Luckily enough for you, there’s plenty of everyday activities you can do to supplement your workout routine. Here’s a few tips for burning off those excess holiday calories!

Shed While You Gift Shop  

Shopping is most definitely exercise, if not a full-contact sport during the holidays. Anyone who says otherwise has obviously never tried to shop on Black Friday. But you don’t have to wear a helmet to get a workout in while you shop—just maximize the amount of walking and carrying you do. Make a trip to the parking lot to unload after every purchase, and be sure to take the mall stairs instead of escalators. As long you keep a brisk pace, you can burn 250-300 calories an hour.

The Kitchen: The Gym of the Holiday Season

The kitchen can be a crazy place during the holidays, but that can work to your advantage when you don’t have time for a traditional workout. If you offer to lend a hand with the cooking and cleaning, you can supplement your usual routine by stirring, seasoning, and scrubbing away. You burn as much as 75 calories preparing a run-of-the-mill dinner every day, and with the extra effort it takes to prepare those holiday meals, you can really make the most out of your make-shift workout. Just remember to focus on burning those excess calories— not the main course!

Recruit the Kids

Children can be some of the most brutal personal trainers, and when you add the sugary treats and excitement of the holidays into the mix, there’s no better workout buddy when you need a stand-in. Just a half hour of play time with your youngest family members can burn 150 calories, and odds are you’ll have just as much fun running around as they will. Plus, the rest of the family will owe you one for tuckering them out!

It may be hard to find time for the gym during the holidays, but that doesn’t mean you can’t burn calories while you enjoy the seasonal fun. With these simple, alternative exercise ideas, you can shed those excess holiday calories and still have a relaxing Winter Break!

Share this article: