How to Work Off the Winter Treats

Image: https://grandmahoneyshouse.com/2023/12/winter-wonderland-snack-board/

The stretch between Christmas and Valentine's Day never seems to bring out the best in you, which is ironic considering the popular New Year’s resolutions out there. From the sweet and sour packages erupting from your stocking to the box of chocolates you get from (or give to) that special person in your life, having a toothache and feeling sluggish can be frustratingly frequent. Don’t worry; I’m here to help!

Establish a light workout plan

If you have a treadmill, rowing machine, or stationary bike, for instance, a good plan to get you back on track would be to set a 10-15 minute timer on any of these pieces of equipment daily. You’ll be surprised to find how consistency, even with such short intervals, can make a significant difference. If you don’t own any of the equipment mentioned above, going for a run, riding a bike, or playing a sport outside can do the trick, despite being less structured.

Play Wii Fit or Wii Sports

A lot of people love video games. However, while sitting around frantically clicking buttons on a controller might give your thumbs a workout, the rest of your body is sadly neglected. But there’s a way for you to enjoy your favorite pastime and exercise at the same time. Wii Fit U (specific to my console) lets you play strength training, flexibility, aerobics, dance, and balance games. It tells you how long you’ve worked out and how many calories you’ve burned. Its goal for everyone is 30 minutes, but please pace yourself accordingly.

Run offseason 5Ks with the cross-country team

If you know me at all, you should have seen this one coming. Running is a fantastic way to stay in shape, and doing it with your friends and family is actually a lot of fun! You feel so accomplished at the end of it, and during our January race, a couple of my good friends even placed in the top three! Our next race is on March 7th, called the Rockin’ Run 5K at Auburn City Hall.