I’m not interested in looking like Santa this season, nor do I want to be a Grinch and miss out on all the holiday fun. To help avoid the dreaded holiday weight gain, I’m switching up my exercise regime this month and adding in these effective calorie burners.
Adding in even just one of these calorie-blasting cardio routines will ensure you don’t plateau and you may even find a new favourite workout.
Running to burn calories
Dash away from the holiday smorgasbord and you’ll be rewarded by burning up to 700 calories an hour. Running works every part of your body and doesn’t require any equipment or a fancy gym.
If it’s not already part of your regular routine, you might want to alternate three minutes of running with one minute of walking. Even a steady jog is a great fat burner. Just be sure to stretch it out after.
How many calories does cross country skiing burn?
Not many great workouts double as a family and friends pastime. Cross country skiing is so much fun, you won’t even think about how many calories you’re burning. If you’re bored of the gym, take it outside and tone both your upper and lower body parts.
Gliding through the woods (or nearby park) for even just half an hour, burns over 300 calories. Take it uphill and double that. My favourite spot for classic skiing is Pocaterra in the Kananaskis.
Jumping rope to burn calories
We’re busy gals during the holiday season and packing a skipping rope allows us to squeeze in a workout no matter where we are. Once you’ve mastered the basics, get fancy with side swings, cross patterns and jacks and nail off 130 calories every ten minutes. Bonus: This is one workout that was made to do while watching TV.
How many calories can you burn kickboxing?
If you have a choice between high impact aerobics and kickboxing, go for the latter. Not only will you get to release any seasonal angst, but you’ll also tone body parts you didn’t know existed. Through those jabs and kicks, you’ll get an aggressive cardio burn combined with resistance work. Commit to a one hour class, and you’ll slash off 600 to 800 calories.
How many calories do you burn in spin class?
This is one group exercise class that anyone can try, regardless of ability level. Cycling is intense but there’s no impact, so your knees and other joints won’t feel the pain (that’s reserved for your legs and butt).
With great tunes and a motivating instructor, you’ll be challenged and often pushed to the limit, but it’s worth it, burning up to 700 calories during a one hour class. I’m a fan of Calgary’s One Cycle, but a ton of Soul Cycle knock-offs can be now be found in pretty much any city.
Bonus calorie burners
If you’ve never tried hot yoga, tis the season to do so. Everyone could use a good stretch, you get your daily sweat on and you’ll get so warm, you won’t mind the frigid walk back to your car.
To me it’s like a meditation class with a bonus workout thrown in. It doesn’t blast the calories quite like these other exercises, but try a hot sculpt and you’ll be pretty satisfied with how you spent the hour.
Try getting a brisk walk in on your lunch hour, taking the stairs instead of the elevator or joining a friend for holiday shopping, walking through the mall. It all adds up.
Do you manage to sneak in workouts during the holiday season? What are your favourites?
