Dear Diane,
After the holidays, my husband and I always find we’ve put on a bit of weight. My husband and I joke that it’s come to the point where we just accept that that’s a part of the season, but we’d love some tips on how to lose our holiday pounds quickly and easily.
- Marlene, Fort Francis, ON
Dear Marlene,
You are not alone! With all the delicious food, fun parties and the hectic pace of the holidays, it’s no wonder a lot of us put on a little extra padding. It can also be harder to get active when it’s cold outside, but here are just a few simple tips to help shed some seasonal weight.
Despite the cold, there’s a lot of fun to be had outside during the winter! Take your kids tobogganing – it’s fun for them and running up and down the hill is great exercise for you. If you’ve got young kids, get them a little sleigh and take them for a sleigh-ride around the neighbourhood. And there’s always the ever-popular snow man!
For those moments when you just can’t bear the cold, there are some simple exercises you can do to get you moving in your home.
Incorporate exercise into your television watching time – do sit-ups, push-ups or lunges during the commercial breaks! It’s the perfect amount of time to do just enough and by the time you’re ready for more, the commercials are back!
Create a home gym. This doesn't have to be expensive. You can easily set-up a great workout routine with a set of dumbbells, an exercise ball and a jump rope.
If you have stairs in your home or building, spend as little as 20 minutes at a time going up and down for an intense and efficient workout.
Visit your local library – they often have exercise videos you can check-out for free. Pick-up a new one to try out every time you return the previous video.
In addition to getting active, make sure you eat healthy. I love the Ziploc® brand Zip n’ Steam™ Cooking Bags because they’re convenient and healthy. Steam cooking retains the food’s vitamins, minerals and water and with Ziploc® brand Zip n’ Steam™ Cooking Bags, you cook in the microwave so it’s fast and easy! For some great recipes and meal ideas, head on over to Ziploc.ca.
Warm Regards,
Diane
