Running to Keep Off the Holiday Pounds

Although we may not want to admit it most Americans average a weight gain of 3-5 pounds or more between Thanksgiving and New Years. With all the holiday parties and New Year’s celebrations it is very difficult to eat healthy during the holiday seasons. In order to help combat the holiday weight gain, adding an exercise routine can really help to keep you in shape over the holiday season.

Many people may say that they simply don’t have time to work out or run on the treadmill during the busy holiday season, but simply finding 30 minutes, three times a week, can really make a difference in preventing that holiday weight gain. If you are really pressed for time then try to do an exercise that will allow you to “get the most bang for your buck.” If you only have 30 minutes to work out, then you are going to want to do an activity that will burn the most calories in this amount of time. The best bet is a running routine.

It doesn’t matter if you are a fast or a slow runner; if you run for that same 30 minutes you are still going to burn a similar amount of calories. The important thing is to make sure that you are running in a safe and healthy manner that will prevent you from injuring yourself so that you can still enjoy the holiday season.

When you decide to start a holiday running program, make sure that you stretch before and after each run. Stretching helps prevent your muscles from tightening up after you work out, which will help to prevent you from being sore later on. Also, make sure that you have good socks that wick away the sweat while you are working out. Moisture wicking socks will help prevent blisters from forming, which will help to make sure you can still wear those holiday high heels or dress shoes that we all plan to wear. Lastly, make sure that you are wearing the proper running shoes. If your running shoes are really worn out then don’t be afraid to buy yourself an early Christmas present. Running with really old shoes or even shoes that don’t fit properly can lead to a whole host of biomechanical problems, not to mention blisters that will not bring you any holiday cheer.

We all want to enjoy the holidays and eat all the yummy food that comes along with it. Following a running schedule is a great way to allow yourself to eat what you want during the holidays while still staying in shape. If you decide to run this season, just remember to use the right gear in order to keep yourself injury free.