Keep your Figure During This Holiday Season:

Tis the season of giving, enjoying special moments with friends and family, and reflecting on all you have accomplished in the past year. Why not give yourself one of the best gifts you can give: a lifetime of living a healthy lifestyle.

We all know how the holidays can be filled with so much to do, which can cause unwanted stress. Rather than get yourself hung up on those “to do” lists, let’s focus on ways to enjoy and diversify some fun ways to stay fit while the holidays approach.

Bake or no bake – get into the kitchen for some fun!  Discovering new recipes with healthier ingredients can be a treat within itself!  Surprise your guests with this simple, tasty, treat for all to enjoy. No oven needed!

Dark Chocolate Treats

3 Ingredients Needed: cacao powder, coconut oil, maple syrup

*Could add to the chocolate mix: almond butter, jam, coconut flakes, nuts

Cacao powder unsweetened: 1 quarter cup
Coconut oil: 1 quarter cup (melt on stove/microwave)
Maple syrup: 2 table spoons
Wisk & mix in a bowl. Pour into a molding. Freeze 15-20 min. Serve & Enjoy!

2. Head to the Hills

No matter where you reside, find a special place to explore by foot. Whether you need to bundle up in the cold or shed some layers in the heat, take time to enjoy getting some fresh air with some scenic views while you sweat it out in the ‘hills’ of your location!

3. Relax & Rejuvenate

 All the shopping and holiday parties getting too much? Maybe it’s time to relax at a day spa or take a meditation class to rejuvenate your mind!

4.  Plan Ahead

I’ve said this before, and I’m saying it again: if you want to stay fit during the holidays, planning your workouts and meals are required. Set aside a time that works with your holiday schedule, commit to it, and stick with it! If you plan ahead this will eliminate the excuse of ‘not having time’.

5. Make it a Family Event

The more the merrier! – Why not make it a family event and do something active that the whole family can enjoy? How about a snowball fight, football in the snow, or just some outdoor games? Having the whole family engage in fun activities can keep everyone fit and creates memories that last a lifetime!

Now let’s make our muscles jolly by going over this weeks ‘Merry Muscles’ workout!  The total body circuits are progressive and are intended to burn fat, blast calories, and condition your entire body. After that, the Pilates routine focuses on strengthening while lengthening your muscles.

Dedicate This Week To Your Holiday Goals With Week 7’s Merry Muscles Routine

This is the 7th week of the holiday program; so if you’re just joining in now, you have the option to refer back to week 1’s blog for the full program details and start from the beginning or you can pick up with week 5’s blog, which is the half way marker. I recommend printing or saving the 8-week schedule to your phone/notebook for an easy reference plan (found in week 1’s blog) as well as each new week’s workout.

Week 7 focuses on ‘Merry Muscles’ workouts, which are intended to move at an intermediate pace. You will perform:

Listed below are the holiday goals along with the 7th week’s ‘Merry Muscles’ routine.

Holiday Goals