| Well it is November, and in the UK the weather is | | | | Avoid this by making the most of the available light, get |
| turning a little colder and wetter. The Christmas | | | | out into the light each day for a brisk walk- even if it is |
| decorations are already up in the shops even though | | | | only 20 minutes during your lunch break at work- that |
| no body wants to think about it all yet. Before we | | | | is 100 minutes of walking a week, and will contribute to |
| know it we will be force-fed mince pies at every turn, | | | | your fitness routine. Top it up with longer walks at the |
| and the festive season will be upon us. After weeks | | | | weekends, treat yourself to a waterproof coat/shoes |
| of eating party food, and not making it to the gym | | | | umbrella, and you may start to relish battling the |
| because there is too much to do January will arrive | | | | elements. |
| and find us flabby, unhealthy and rushing to buy the | | | | 4. Take your healthy routine to work; pack a healthy |
| latest detox book, and join the newest gym. Well | | | | lunch box, and take a big bottle of mineral water. |
| fitness friends, Detox is just SO last year, this year we | | | | Vegetable soup in a flask with some whole meal pita |
| shall pre-tox! With the winter months upon us it is a | | | | is a great lunch. Take healthy snacks with you as well, |
| great time to knuckle down to some healthful living; | | | | such as fresh fruit, oat or rice cakes and a little pot of |
| loose the extra pounds, eat well to fight off colds and | | | | yoghurt. Ignore the food/drink machines; resist the urge |
| infections, get outside in the light for some healthy | | | | to drink lots of coffee and tea. Take the stairs and |
| fitness walking to fend off seasonal depression, and | | | | keep active where possible. If you are at a desk, take |
| stay fit. Starting from today, you can re-vamp your | | | | mini-breaks to stretch and revitalize yourself. Get your |
| healthy lifestyle and avoid the end-of-year slump, start | | | | work buddies interested in being healthier- organize an |
| working now and spend the end of the year feeling | | | | after-work netball/football team or a fitness challenge. |
| healthy and proud rather than tired and sick. So here | | | | Work is a big part of your week, don't leave being |
| are 5 ways to get fitter by Christmas; | | | | healthy to the weekends. |
| 1. Try a new activity this week; do not spend the dark | | | | 5. Buy some seasonal vegetables; UK markets are |
| evenings glued to the television, cheer yourself up by | | | | groaning under the weight of healthy vegetables at this |
| attending a salsa class, check out the new swimming | | | | time of the year; pumpkin, squash, turnip, swede, |
| pool, walk to work, try a new class, buy a yoga video | | | | beetroot, many varieties of cabbage, parsnips, |
| (and try it out), dust off your bike and go get muddy at | | | | cauliflower, leeks, chestnuts, and apples. Get to the |
| the weekend, ignore the weather and go for a run- | | | | farmers market and you will be surprised at the |
| enjoy the looks of admiration of the people who pass | | | | variety on offer. Fill a basket and go home and make |
| you by. Look in your diary and find an hour to try | | | | some warming soups, roast some pumpkin with thyme |
| something new, and then book a fitness date with | | | | and olive oil, bake some vegetables and steam some |
| yourself. Even better- make a date with a friend to do | | | | cabbage. For a lovely winter pudding, core an apple |
| something together, and then you will have to do it | | | | and put on a slice of whole meal bread brushed with |
| regardless of the dark/cold/wet/Eastenders. | | | | milk, stuff the hole in the apple with dried fig or raisins |
| 2. Revitalize your gym programme; everyone gets | | | | and a little honey. Bake until soft all the way through |
| bored of the gym if they do the same thing over and | | | | and serve with some natural yoghurt or half-fat |
| over again. Get yourself some fresh motivational | | | | crème fraiche. The winter can be an |
| music and jazz-up your routine. The body will progress | | | | opportunity to eat well, resist the temptation to cram in |
| with challenge, so do something new; set yourself a | | | | the calories with unhealthy fatty and sugary 'comfort' |
| challenge, such as being able to do 5 full press-ups by | | | | foods. |
| Christmas, or being able to run 5k by new year, build | | | | The winter months affect everyone differently, but |
| yourself a little circuit mixing up high intensity cardio with | | | | many people seem to 'hibernate;' reacting to the colder |
| weights and other exercises. Use the free weights | | | | and darker environment by becoming less active, |
| rather than the machines and be inventive with | | | | eating more and eating 'comfort' food, staying inside, |
| available equipment like the stability and medicine balls. | | | | and missing their usual classes because of a |
| Book an induction if you need some help, and tell them | | | | reluctance to go out in the evenings. If this sounds a bit |
| you want something new and interesting. Often | | | | like you, then give yourself a shake, wake yourself up |
| magazines such as Men's health and Ultra-Fit will have | | | | and embrace the winter with the different opportunities |
| good tips on using the gym inventively. | | | | that it has to offer. Don't turn into a couch potato, get |
| 3. Go for a walk. Many people are affected by the | | | | fitter for Christmas, and when the rest of the world |
| lack of light from November onwards. This may make | | | | are worn out with indulgence, you will be feeling on top |
| them feel tired, unmotivated, a bit down or depressed. | | | | of the world. |