Christmas has been my worst enemy since adulthood took me by surprise. One day, I was able to eat everything I wanted, and then, out of the blue, I realized that all that chocolate, beer, bread, and desserts came at a price: my metabolism had stabbed me in the back. Counting carbs and calories, and worrying about sugar and fat were things I would only hear about after Christmas dinner with my parents and older relatives. Until one Christmas, I joined the double-chin-muffin-top club, and the fight against the Christmas bulge hasn’t ended since.
Don’t get me wrong: beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and forms. But, it is also true that gaining some extra pounds can put our health in jeopardy. It is important to maintain a healthy weight (if you don’t know which is yours, I recommend that you check with your doctor), watching what we eat, how we eat it, and exercising regularly. So, don’t let the Christmas dinner get you and try these five easy exercises for you to boost your metabolism, so the only thing you gain this season is the joy is gift certificates from your lazy yet generous relatives.
Side note: These exercises are part of one single routine and should be done in series of threes. Also, remember to always stretch before and after these exercises, and to stop if you feel any pain.
Jumping Rope
A rope and a kick-ass playlist are the only things you need (and maybe a yoga mat to cushion the impact). For this exercise, all you need is a few feet of space in your bedroom or the living room, and basically to jump rope (or just jump, if you can’t find a rope). The trick here is to increase, day by day, the amount of minutes you jump. Day one, 3 minutes; day two, 4 minutes; day three, 5 minutes and then, day four, break. You keep going like that for 30 days, and you’ll see how those extra glasses of wine became sweat.
The Plank
Lie down on a yoga mat with your forearms and toes on the mat. The rest of your body has to be lifted in a symmetrical position in which your legs, spine, and head form a line. You have to hold this position for about half a minute the first day (sure you can do it!). Then, you’ll add ten seconds progressively for 30 days after Christmas. Desserts won’t even know what hit them.
Squats
These are hard to master, but with a few days’ practice, you’ll kill it. Here what matters is that you achieve each and one of the squats and that you respect the number you’re supposed to do each day. Start with a series of ten repetitions, and then by day five add two more squats every two days.
Side Lunge
These are easier than squads and are great to work on that bubble butt we all want to achieve at the end of the year. Some people have a hard time gaining weight on the buttocks, hips and thighs, so this exercise complements the way muscle burns fat, and the way your body gets rid off those extra calories. On your mat, you’ll form an arc with your legs apart, and then you simply flex one of your knees down to one side, while the other leg stretches straight, with your feet and toes always on the ground. You should start with a series of 10 repetitions, and then slowly increase by two.
Windshield Wipers
On your back, you’re going to extend your legs high, tensing your muscles without hurting yourself. Then, with your arms extended on the floor, you’ll begin to do the same exact movement wipers do on your windshield: you’ll move your legs right, then to center, then to left. This is awesome for you to work on your abdominal area without much effort, and it helps as cardio, which improves your metabolism.
These exercises are easy to achieve, since you don’t need any equipment to do them. Also, you can easily practice indoors, so you don’t expose yourself to cold weather, and they are great for a slow-paced start to that hot summer body that may be in your New Year’s resolutions. Still, it’s worth watching the portions of these holiday dishes. Don’t limit yourself, go, and try everything on the table, but listen to your stomach when it tells you that enough is enough.
Cover picture at Yours
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