Every year mid-November arrives surprisingly quickly and talk of the Christmas party starts. In line with Christmas party talk, the subject of what to wear inevitably comes up. Looking good in your Christmas party outfit is somewhat of an infatuation for many workers up and down the country. This doesn’t sit well with the temptation to over indulge on food and drink during the party season. Now, we’re not saying don’t get out and enjoy yourselves with a few sherries and mince pies, but we are asking: why make it more difficult in January by over indulging in December? Taking up a class now, or joining the gym pre-New Year’s Resolution rush can reduce temptation and give you focus.
Try A New Exercise Class
The great thing about an exercise class is you can try it. If you don’t like it, you can try another. Also, you can often pay on a per-class basis so you don’t have to commit until you find a class you like. There are thousands of classes countrywide which all have different themes; cardiovascular fitness, toning, strengthening, relaxation or a combination of the four. Popular classes include Zumba, Pilates, Circuit Training, Yoga and Kettle Bell Fitness. If these aren’t for you, perhaps a Hip Hop Dance Class, Cheerleading (yes, adults can do it too and it’s growing in popularity!), or Kick Boxing. For ideas, speak to your local gym or even your local village hall or get searching on Google.
8 cool bits of kit for your first exercise class:
Women’s Air Pegasus+ 30 Running Shoe
Nike Women’s Tech 2 Tights Black
Nike Women’s Miler Shortsleeve V-Neck Top Pink
Nike Sports Water Bottle Pink
Nike Free 5.0+ Shield Men’s Trainer Brown
Under Armour Men’s Escape 5″ Woven Shorts
Nike Miler Singlet Running Vest Black
Nike Hydro Flow 2 Water Bottle Red
Go And Try Your Local Gym
If you aren’t the archetypal gym bunny, joining a gym can seem intimidating. Signing a contract can seem doubly daunting especially if you are not sure whether or not you’ll actually enjoy it after the first month. So, get ahead of the January rush and take advantage of some of the great offers available before Christmas such as no joining fee, one month’s free trial or Nuffield Health and other leading health providers offer free one day passes. These all give you the chance to decide whether or not you want to commit.
A relatively new phenomenon, is the ultra-budget gym; they’re functional, have all the equipment and classes you need but forgo the bells and whistles of some of the higher end gym chains. easyGym for example offers membership from £9.99 a month, which is nothing when compared to three drinks on a night out.
8 essential bits of kit for the gym:
adidas Gateway 2 Women’s Trainer White
adidas Women’s Prime Tee White
adidas Response DS 3/4 Women’s Running Tight Black
adidas Media Arm Pocket Black
adidas Men’s Sonic Boost Running Trainers Blue
adidas Men’s Response 7″ Shorts Black
adidas Men’s Supernova Long Sleeve Tee Black
adidas Puntero Team Sports Bag Medium Black
Exercise At Home
If the idea of a class or gym terrifies you or doesn’t fit in to your daily routine, exercising at home might be a good option. There are literally thousands of fitness DVDs available or there are some great fitness channels on YouTube which provide daily, weekly and monthly workout schedules. Some of the best results can often be achieved in your own home, and it can increase confidence if you would like to join the gym eventually.
5 recommended bits of kit for home fitness:
Fitness Mad Warrior Yoga Mat Purple (4mm thick)
Fitness Mad Resistance Band - Light
Fitness Mad Studio Pro Speed 8 Feet Skipping Rope
Fitness Mad 55cm Swiss Ball 300kg, Pump & DVD Blue
Fitness Mad Kettlebell 4kg Pink
Set Bite Size Targets
This one probably should have been at the beginning rather than the end; setting targets is something which people often fail to do when committing to getting fit, or they set targets which are too hard to meet and are demotivating when not met.
We say don’t go for the ‘all or nothing’ approach; set small, achievable targets which you can reach in small steps, and if you fall off track, it isn’t impossible to get back on. Christmas party themed targets might be; “During the next two weeks I’d like to tone my arms for my Christmas party dress” or “I’d like to fit in to the outfit I wore two years ago which was a little tight last time I tried it on” rather than “I am going to go to the gym five nights a week, permanently”.
Ultimately fitness is something we should enjoy rather than endure, so it’s important to discover what helps you to commit; and if you have to try twenty different classes, then do, as it will pay off in the long run and is easier to develop a good habit with lasting positive effects.