How to stay fit during the festive season
You have faithfully stuck to an exercise routine throughout the year. But the festive season is here with all its parties and wonderful food. How do you stay fit during the holidays and not turn into a couch potato?
Stay active
Marie-Antoinette Fouché, Murrayfield Training Group coach, says the December holidays can be very hot.
“If you’re at home in Pretoria, the heat tends to make you feel tired before even starting. One tends to make up excuses not to exercise then. To counteract this, exercise early in the morning, around 05:00 (which is the ideal time), or after 17:00.
“The air is cooler and fresher, and one’s mood is usually better, but only if you have had enough sleep,” Fouché reckons.
Get enough sleep
Don’t go to bed late; anything before midnight is ideal. “Try to get 6–8 hours of sleep every night,” Fouché advises.
Stay hydrated
Drink enough water while you are exercising. Take a bottle with you or remember to rehydrate after your walk. Freeze some water in a bottle, so you can stay nice and cool on the walk – especially on a very hot day.
Buddy system or join a running/walking group
“Some people struggle to walk or do something alone,” says Fouché. If you don’t like to walk alone, walk with someone instead. Find a friend or someone you know won’t drop you, and vice versa. Arrange to meet somewhere.”
Grahame Gertsch, the club manager of Phobians Athletics Club, says they usually have a programme running through the December holidays, starting in mid-December until the middle of January. The programme is full of fun activities to stay active.
“You can join the events as a non-member at a small fee,” he says.
The Pretoria High School Old Boys (PHSOB) club is based at Hofmeyr Park, with premises suitable for runners/walkers. They usually go on training runs, and also have a kids’ programme.
How to stay motivated
Fouché advises acquiring a logbook to write down your times and distances. “You may notice that you’ve bettered your time on a route. This motivates you to keep going.”
She also urges people to make it interesting so they will look forward to exercising.
“Walk different routes or go to a park or do Parkruns. Mix it up so you won’t get bored.”
Another reason, according to Fouché, for walking different routes is to keep safe. “Criminals often tend to watch your routine.”
She says it also helps to set short-term and long-term goals. “For example, you can decide how many kilometres you want to reach at the end of December. That is a long-term goal.
“And for the short-term, you can break up sessions weekly with shorter distances you’d like to walk every week or every session.
“It helps mentally to do shorter distances on some days, especially when you feel you don’t have the energy that day,” she adds.
It is more fun to achieve your fitness goals if you exercise in a group or with a buddy. It is also safer, as there is safety in numbers.
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok or WhatsApp Channel
