Group EXercise can keep you fit over the holidays

In the health and fitness world, we’re always on the quest for more. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Drink more water. Squeeze in more workouts. There’s no shame in wanting more; having a new fitness goal, no matter how small, can help keep your workouts grounded and focused – especially during times when you suddenly have more on your plate than you might have anticipated.

With the holidays quickly approaching, you might find it difficult to worry about (or, let’s face it, even think about) your fitness goals. Parties, social gatherings, family visits, shopping trips, cooking, baking, and decorating swiftly prioritize your schedule, making it easy for you to think you don’t have the time to add anything else into your schedule – especially your workouts. Don’t let yourself fall into this trap.

The average holiday dinner can range anywhere from 1500-2000 calories from start to finish – or MORE! That’s more than most healthy females should consume in one day. Consider this – how often do you have just ONE holiday feast in December? I know I usually have 2-3 full dinners myself over a few days. The ratio does not look good – we are tempted to do FEWER workouts, while consuming MORE calories. How do you counteract this equation? The answer is simpler than you might think.

Average calories burned in several popular Group EXercise Classes…
BODYPUMP – 560 (just 3 classes = 1680 calories)
BODYCOMBAT – 740 (just 3 classes = 2220calories)
BODYATTACK – 735 (just 3 classes = 2205 calories)
RPM – 675 (just 3 classes = 2025 calories)
BODYFLOW – 390 (just 3 classes = 1170 calories)
BODYSTEP – 620 (just 3 classes = 1860 calories)
BODYVIVE – 420 (just 3 classes = 1260 calories)

Without a doubt, the holidays are about getting together with family, relaxing, and catching up. There’s no shame in cutting back your workouts, and giving yourself a break from your daily routine. Just keep your indulges to a minimum, and add an extra class or two into your holiday to help keep the damage to a minimum!

5 tips to further assist your efforts:
1. Go to the gym EARLIER – get your workout or class complete, then plan on running errands directly afterwards.
2. Bring someone with you. If you’re visiting family, encourage them to join you for a class –even if they aren’t a GoodLife member. (But don’t be tempted not to go if they decline)
3. Make your scheduled class a priority – pretend you’re the one teaching it, and you’ll have no problem.
4. During your family get-togethers, use a plate or napkin to portion your appetizers ahead of time. If you don’t use one, you will lose track of how much you’ve eaten before dinner.
5. When choosing your food options, choose wisely. If there’s something there you don’t absolutely LOVE, why waste the calories?

The chart below provides more details on each Les Mills class so you can choose which class is right for you.

Click image for larger version

Courtney has been working for GoodLife since 2006 in various club roles. She’s now able to manage her true passion in this company – Group Exercise! She oversees the clubs in Peterborough and Cobourg. She also currently teaches BODYPUMP, RPM, BODYATTACK and BODYCOMBAT, and has certifications in CanFitPro FIS and NWS. She’s a regular contributor for the GoodTimes eNewsletter, and has an education background and Honours Degree from the University of Toronto in English Literature. She loves writing almost as much as she loves teaching Group Exercise!