The holiday season is a time of festivities, food, and family gatherings. It’s a time when we often indulge in calorie-rich foods and drinks, which can make it challenging to keep the extra pounds at bay.
However, staying active during the holiday season can help you burn off those excess calories and maintain your fitness levels.
This article shares 30 ways to burn off Christmas calories and stay fit during the holiday season.
1. Go for a Walk or Run
Walking or running is an excellent way to burn off those extra calories. You can go for a walk or run early in the morning before the day’s activities begin or in the evening when things have settled down.
An hour of brisk walking can burn up to 300 calories, and jogging can burn up to 600 calories in an hour.
2. Take up a Winter Sport
Winter sports like ice skating, skiing, and snowboarding are not only fun, but they can also help you burn off calories.
For instance, ice skating for an hour can burn up to 450 calories, and skiing or snowboarding can burn up to 600 calories in an hour.
3. Try High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
HIIT is a form of exercise that involves intense bursts of activity followed by short periods of rest. This type of training can help you burn off calories quickly and efficiently.
You can try HIIT exercises like burpees, jumping jacks, and squat jumps, which can be done at home or in the gym.
4. Dance to Your Favorite Music
Dancing to your favorite tunes can be a fun and effective way to burn off calories. You can dance alone or with a partner, and you don’t need any special equipment or training to do it.
Dancing for an hour can burn up to 400 calories, depending on the intensity of the dance moves.
5. Go Swimming
Swimming is a low-impact exercise that can help you burn off calories and improve your cardiovascular health. An hour of swimming can burn up to 500 calories, depending on your swimming speed and technique.
6. Participate in a Fitness Class
Joining a fitness class like Zumba, kickboxing, or aerobics can be a great way to stay active and burn off those extra calories.
These classes are usually led by a trained instructor who can guide you through the exercises and help you achieve your fitness goals.
7. Do Some Yoga
Yoga is a low-impact exercise that can help you burn off calories, improve your flexibility, and reduce stress. You can do yoga at home or join a yoga class for better guidance.
An hour of yoga can burn up to 200 calories, depending on the intensity of the poses.
8. Take the Stairs Instead of the Elevator
Making small changes like taking the stairs instead of the elevator can help you burn off extra calories throughout the day. Climbing stairs can burn up to 10 calories per minute, depending on your body weight and the number of stairs climbed.
9. Jump Rope
Jumping rope is an excellent cardiovascular exercise that can help you burn off calories and improve your coordination. You can jump rope at home or in the gym, and an hour of intense jumping can burn up to 700 calories.
10. Try a Circuit Training Workout
Circuit training is a type of workout that involves high-intensity cardio and strength exercises performed back-to-back with little rest in between. This type of training can help you burn off calories quickly and efficiently.
You can try exercises like jumping jacks, lunges, push-ups, and squats, which can be done at home or in the gym.
11. Plan a Hiking Trip
Hiking is an excellent way to burn off calories, get some fresh air, and enjoy nature. You can plan a hiking trip with friends or family and choose a scenic trail that suits your fitness level.
12. Play a Sport
Playing a sport like basketball, soccer, or tennis can be a great way to stay active and burn off calories. These sports are usually played with teams or partners, which can make the game more fun and competitive.
13. Take a Bike Ride
Riding a bike is an excellent way to explore your local area, get some exercise, and burn off those extra calories. You can ride your bike alone or with a friend, and an hour of cycling can burn up to 500 calories.
14. Clean Your House
Cleaning your house can be a great way to burn off calories while getting some much-needed work done. You can vacuum, mop, dust, and scrub your way to a cleaner and more organized home.
15. Do Some Yard Work
Yard work like mowing the lawn, raking leaves, or planting flowers can be a great way to burn off calories and improve the look of your outdoor space.
16. Play with Your Kids or Pets
Playing with your kids or pets can be a fun and active way to spend time with your loved ones. You can play catch, tag, or Frisbee with your kids or take your dog for a walk in the park.
17. Take a Dance Class
Taking a dance class like salsa, ballroom, or hip-hop can be a fun and active way to burn off calories and learn some new moves. These classes are usually taught by trained instructors who can guide you through the dance steps.
18. Go for a Kayaking Trip
Kayaking is a great way to explore the water, get some exercise, and burn off those extra calories. You can rent a kayak or join a guided kayaking tour for a more guided experience.
19. Create a Home Workout Routine
Creating a home workout routine can be a great way to stay active and burn off calories even when you can’t make it to the gym.
You can use bodyweight exercises like push-ups, lunges, and squats or invest in some workout equipment like dumbbells, resistance bands, or a yoga mat.
20. Attend a Group Fitness Class
Attending a group fitness class like cycling, Pilates, or barre can be a great way to stay motivated and burn off those extra calories. You can join a local gym or community center to find a fitness class that suits your interests and fitness level.
21. Go for a Walk After Dinner
Going for a walk after dinner can help you burn off those extra calories and improve your digestion. You can take a stroll around your neighborhood or a nearby park and enjoy the fresh air and scenery.
22. Take a Tai Chi Class
Tai chi is a low-impact exercise that can help you improve your balance, flexibility, and muscle strength. You can take a tai chi class at a local community center or learn some basic moves online.
23. Join a Running Group
Joining a running group can be a great way to stay motivated and burn off those extra calories. You can find a local running group or club in your area and join them for a run or two each week.
24. Go for a Power Walk
Power walking is a form of exercise that involves walking at a brisk, fast-paced speed. It’s a great way to burn off calories and improve your cardiovascular health.
An hour of power walking can burn up to 300 calories, depending on your walking speed and intensity.
25. Join a Yoga Class
Joining a yoga class can be a great way to improve your flexibility, reduce stress, and burn off those extra calories. Yoga classes are usually taught by trained yoga instructors who can guide you through the poses and breathing techniques.
26. Try a Step Aerobics Class
Step aerobics is a type of exercise that involves stepping up and down on a raised platform. It can help you burn off calories, improve your cardiovascular health, and strengthen your lower body muscles.
You can find a step aerobics class at a local gym or community center.
27. Take Up CrossFit Training
CrossFit is a type of training that involves high-intensity functional movements like lifting weights, running, jumping, and rowing. It can help you burn off calories, build muscle mass, and improve your overall fitness level.
You can find a CrossFit gym in your area and join a class.
28. Do a Virtual Workout
Doing a virtual workout at home can be a convenient and effective way to burn off calories. You can find online workout videos on YouTube or fitness apps like Peloton, Beachbody, or FitOn.
29. Take a Kickboxing Class
Kickboxing is a high-intensity exercise that combines martial arts moves with cardio and strength training. It can help you burn off calories, improve your coordination, and reduce stress.
You can find a kickboxing class at a local gym or community center.
30. Use a Fitness Tracker
Using a fitness tracker like a Fitbit or Garmin can help you monitor your physical activity, set fitness goals, and track your progress. These devices can also help you stay motivated and accountable for your workouts and daily activity levels.