WELLNESS CONNECTION · Fitness

Stay in shape over the holidays, California-style with Four Seasons Westlake Village

By Vaughn Kastor, MA, Exercise Physiologist

December 22, 2011 - 12:00PM

It�s the holiday season�hooray! What a great time to enjoy family, friends�and put on a few extra pounds. That�s right, why do you think we all make New Year�s resolutions?

Here�s an idea: make your promise a bit early and have it include fun and family time, mixed in with a bit of exercise.

We have all heard the usual: park further away, take the stairs when possible, etc. But sometimes�well, often�life takes over and makes these attempts a challenge. Here are a few suggestions on how to sneak in some holiday sweat�and get the kids in on it, too:

� Start the day early with some family exercise before the craziness takes over. And take the dog along for the walk�he�ll love it!

� How about some good old-fashioned Christmas caroling for an hour? You�ll give the lungs a workout while bringing good cheer to neighbors.

� Enjoy the holidays with some seasonal outdoor activities, such as sledding, ice skating or building a snowman. You�d be surprised how much exercise is involved in a playful snowball fight. No snow where you live? No problem. Powder puff football, tag, Capture the Flag and hide-and-seek are sure to do the trick.

� Enjoy viewing holiday lights and decorations? Bundle up and walk the neighborhood instead of driving.

� Family chores don�t have to be drudgery�they can also be a chance for families to bond and practice teamwork. Try raking the leaves together before the gardener does (allow extra time for jumping into the piles) and pawn off some of those extra desserts on him instead. Did you know that shoveling snow can burn more than 500 calories an hour?

� Limit TV time. Or if you must tune in, get the family doing some basic exercises, such as push-ups, sit-ups or marching during all commercial breaks. Give your sofa some time alone!

� Learn about Geocaching, a GPS-guided �real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game� to uncover hidden containers, which is sure to be a hit with the kids. All you need is a smart phone and an app. My family loves it.

� Put on some Bing Crosby and dance or march while doing your typical sedentary activities�i.e., folding clothes, catching up with relatives on the phone, cooking.

� Cut down your own tree and set it up yourself.

� While Dad is outside putting up the lights and Mom is decorating inside, have the kids help out. You�ll be amazed how much movement is involved unpacking the stored decorations.

� Don�t forget the basics while you�re at it. Stay consistent with regular meals and work on portion control. It�s doubtful you�ll be light on the calories during this festive time of year, and that�s OK. Just stay on track. Stay hydrated, even though it may be cold. Both alcohol and caffeine can deplete our water supply; plus, drinking plenty of water can also help keep your appetite in check.

Have a happy, and healthy, holiday this year!

This article originally appeared in the Have Family, Will Travel blog.

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