Tips to Burn the Holiday Calories

Weight gain during the winter holiday season is not uncommon. Come to think of it, one comes to expect it, not only because the homemade goodies are much too tempting to resist, but also because this period messes up our daily workout routine. One way to avoid packing on the pounds this year, Shape magazine suggests, is to stay fit by having fun.

Clearly, women love shopping, so this would be a good place to start burning the calories away while also having fun. This “workout” routine requires no other special equipment than a credit card and lots of time to spare. However, the trick is to make sure that you spend most of the time standing, walking and carrying bags because it is then that you are burning the most calories.

“Need an excuse to hit the mall? An hour of shopping burns 249 calories, but this number varies depending on the time you spend standing and walking. Carrying heavy bags only adds to the calorie burn, so shop away! One 5-ounce serving of the ever-so-tempting eggnog is a whopping 200 calories, so make sure you have time to shop afterward to make up for it,” Shape says. The number of calories burned per hour is calculated on a 145-pound woman.

Activities typical for the winter season, like hanging out the Christmas lights or going sledding are also a good idea to burn the extra calories. The former, for instance, burns around 90 calories per hour – if that amount seems close to insignificant, we should also note that the exercise helps us strengthen our core muscles and improve balance. Sledding, on the other hand, works the arms, calves and quads, burning 121 calories in just 15 minutes. Plus, it’s also extremely fun.

Another fun activity that melts the pounds away is ice skating. “Heading to the ice rink with friends and family is a fun way to spend the holiday – and a great way to stay fit. The number of calories burned ice skating is substantial – around 484 an hour. Looking for a treat to indulge in? A slice of pumpkin pie has an average of 229 calories, so plan on heading to the ice rink after,” Shape says.