How to work out during the holidays
Photos Bastien Lattanzio
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Adapt your habits to the season of endless meals.
The countdown has started. You have less than a month to go before the highly anticipated holiday season and your presents are not yet ready. You have another question in mind: how can you stay in shape between Christmas and New Year’s and avoid a restrictive diet at the beginning of the year? Let us help you answer that question.
Reunited with your loved ones during that fast-faced week, you’re bound to consume some things in excess; alcohol in abundance (of course, this type of pleasure is to be consumed in moderation, which your skin and liver will appreciate), and lavish holiday dinners can get the best of you. As we know, the tendency of coming back from the holidays with a few extra pounds, is a bad habit for many men. The consequences of this bad habit must obviously be repaired as the new year comes around.
We only want what’s best for you. So, it will never be our intention to deprive you from your family get- togethers to go running between meals. That type of exercise would be painful and discouraging, timed way too close to a hearty meal and lots of drinks. Not even the weather will be in your favour: the cold and snow do not always go well with running – alcohol paired with slippery roads could be fatal.
Go for HIIT
All that being said, in order to stay in shape and shed some extra calories, we obviously do advise you to practice a minimum of physical activity. Similarly to Marc Briant-Terlet and his morning ritual, we suggest trying HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) exercises.
High intensity interval training (don’t let the name scare you) is an effective way to burn fat. There are several training variations, each with their own smartphone application. Seven will offer you a succession of body weight exercises to be done in 30-second intervals for 7 minutes – this can be adapted. Quick 4 works on the same principle, but in 4 minutes. Of course, other applications exist, it’s up to you to find the one that will suit you best. So, when you get out of bed, you will only need 5 to 15 minutes to get an effective exercise in, before moving on to your shower and morning routine.
If you’re still in doubt about the effectiveness of this type of workout, Olivier Morelli, the trainer of the French volleyball team, will convince you. Do not hesitate to follow his advice: it is coming from a man who trains a European champion team.
Working out as a family
As you know, the holidays are also a time to get together with your loved ones. Therefore, it isn’t always a good idea to hide away in your teenage bedroom to get a few sets of push-ups in. To combine business with pleasure, you can go kick around a ball with your family, young and old – the little ones will thank you after waiting for just that. On the agenda: football, basketball, or rugby.
The same goes for racket sports, from the engaging game of squash to ping-pong tournaments in the garage, or to a friendly tennis match. These are all alternatives to seriously consider. These activities will also be an opportunity to showcase your talent. Yes, you have to stay competitive, even in front of children.
In short, take advantage of this time to give yourself some well-deserved rest and quality time as one should. You’ve been so booked and busy these past few months and will have plenty of time to resume your runs once the new year starts. However, regarding the gifts, it’s time to seriously start thinking about those. The closer you get to the date, the more of a workout Christmas shopping becomes.