With the Christmas holidays just a few weeks away, many of you will be heading off on holiday for a well earned break but that doesn’t mean you need to take a break from training completely. The festive season often means endless Christmas parties, Christmas drinks and all round overindulging which inevitably leads to increased calorie intake. So while now is a great time to take a break from work, perhaps it’s not the time to take a break from your training. Keeping up with your training doesn’t have to eat into your precious holiday time either, now is the time to work smarter by upping the intensity and saving yourself some time.
If you’re travelling this holiday break, try packing some simple equipment that will allow you to do a wider range of exercises. A resistance band is a great option; it’s lightweight and easily packs in your luggage. You can do a full body workout including rows, chest press, bicep curls, tricep extensions, upright row and flys just to name a few.
Now you have your band you can head out for an interval run to a park or beach area. Try running all out for 30 seconds, then jogging or walking for 30 seconds and repeat that interval for 10 to 15 minutes while taking in the sights of your holiday destination. If you can find a local park with a bench seat and some trees, you’ve got yourself a workout location. Wrap the band around a tree or post and try three sets of five or six exercises, add in some step ups or box jumps on the bench in between and you’re done. Jog it home or if you still have more to give repeat the intervals on the way home!
The other way to get your calorie burn on is to walk, walk, walk, and what better way to sight-see than by pounding the pavement. It beats public transport because you can stop anytime you like and you’ll see so much more. Make sure you pack good walking shoes and where possible, walk up some stairs or a couple of hills, a great way to increase your heart rate and burn more calories.
If your hotel has a gym or pool, take the opportunity while the rest of the family is having a lazy holiday sleep in, to get up a little earlier and get your exercise out of the way before the day of fun begins. Once it’s done you’ll be glad you made the effort.
In the end it’s all about balance. The whole point of a holiday is to relax and rest your mind and body, so don’t get stressed out trying to fit in your usual exercise routine. Take up opportunities to exercise where you can, but make sure you enjoy your holiday, spend time with your friends and/or family and let yourself unwind! The gym and your trainers will be waiting for you when you get back.
