Introduction
It is important to stay motivated with an exercise regimen to sustain health for all the right reasons. Though maintaining or striking a balance in the holiday season with a healthy lifestyle would still seem impossible to many. This article explores several tips that one can incorporate to keep oneself motivated, and physically fit (despite one’s interruption in exercise schedules), and also sustain the health the right way.
What Is the Need for Balancing Food and Exercise Even During a Break or a Vacation?
The holiday season or a vacation in between the normal work schedule would definitely tend to bring an interruption in the regular diet and exercise patterns or regimen. For instance, if one has kept a list of activities or sightseeing places that one would have to see or do or roam around when one is planning to visit a new place on a holiday or vacation, one would often miss out on even the low intensity or moderate physical activity which one would otherwise be doing at that particular time of the day.
According to current nutrition research and global surveys, it is not uncommon to have more cheat meals or binge eat for many individuals who are on vacations or go on extended holidays. This would also make individuals easy prey to binge eating processed foods, junk foods, fried stuff, and sugary foods or beverages more often during the day, leading some to develop gastrointestinal issues, diarrhea, vomiting, and more because of the negative effects of such disorders or unhealthy eats. Further research statistics show that a lack of healthy habits during these scheduled interruptions from the normal exercise schedule can have their fair share of detrimental impacts on health. One needs to stay active almost every day of the year irrespective of age and health status to sustain overall health and well-being, according to global nutrition experts and physicians.
What Are the Tips to Incorporate for Healthy Regimens?
Several tips for healthy regimens include:
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Planning ahead before a holiday or a vacation, especially when one is visiting other places or even if one simply chooses to sit back and enjoy most of the time at one’s place - would mean that one is exercising less than usual. Hence, making small changes to one’s holiday schedule by charting out a time log or a scheduled exercise log that can motivate one to take some time out for exercising during the holidays can ensure that this planning can still keep one physically active. Do not forget that being physically active also is the direct key to mental health. Planning such logs or physical activity charts ahead of the holiday can make a positive difference.
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If one is staying with the family on vacations or during the holiday, one can always try searching for some family-based sports activities or adventures to make one’s trip even more fun. One can also search if there are nearby gyms or exercise facilities, which many hotels have for their guests, that one can utilize for some time during the holiday.
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If one has planned a holiday in advance and one has lightweight fitness equipment that one can exercise with, it would be easier to spend at least 15 to 20 minutes working out every day during the holidays. However, if one is unable to carry any fitness equipment, one can ask family or friends to let one borrow the same or look for alternate options for exercising in the hotel one is staying in.
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It is important to note that for individuals with a sedentary lifestyle or those who do not perform any high-intensity gym workouts, the simple exercise workouts at home are the best. These simple exercises whether through simple stretches or by yoga asanas do not usually require one to possess either much space for exercise or any specific fitness equipment. Hence, those interested in yoga, physical workouts, or simple stretches of the body can keep themselves at ease with low-intensity workouts wherever they are, for some time during the course of the holiday to break sedentary patterns.
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Planning a walking tour, running, or park trails at the place of the vacation and especially for local sightseeing would be not only a fun way to spend time with family and friends but also a positively impactful way to burn all the extra calories during vacations.
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One might be wondering - what about the individuals then who used to perform moderate to high-intensity workouts like gym goers bodybuilders, fitness enthusiasts, and athletes? Well, during the vacation, one can always plan a 10-minute routine that does not require much space in the room. All one would need to do is choose at least 5 to 10 exercise forms. For instance, squats, lunges, jumping jacks, push-ups, and others which one can perform for a considerably short duration during holidays, for less than a minute to two minutes per exercise form.
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For individuals who have resistance bands with them, they are travel-friendly in the bags and one can use them for performing any quick strength exercise for around a few minutes into the day's schedule.
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For individuals in the group who are not motivated to exercise at all or who prefer to spend more time napping, one can try inspiring them by bringing along a workout on DVD (digital video disc) or by streaming online workouts for a few minutes that can make them join in the exercise schedule too.
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It is never too late for a brisk or quick walk or run, especially before or after lunch or dinner time. These are the best time windows that can also help one boost the appetite (if one is walking or running prior to the food time) or digesting the food (walking is preferred more after eating for steady digestion).
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In free time, during vacations- try taking some extra time with walking or running laps at the park, and use the stairs instead of the lift. One can see that if one is motivated to exercise, one can find simple ways to spend the holidays doing small exercises effectively and correctly.
Conclusion
To conclude, holidays should give individuals more reason to boost their physical and mental stamina, and staying motivated even during the holiday season need not be either a stressful or forced physical activity. Rather, incorporating small exercise regimens into the holiday schedule can ensure that one is enjoying a healthy time with family and friends during vacations.
