By Pam Gaulin, Contributing writerIf you give yourself the gift of indulgence during the holidays, it can also be time to give yourself the gift of health with a post-holiday workout plan.
As soon as the last cookie has crumbled and the last drop of eggnog has dried up, gear up to get fit and lose weight.
Plan a Tropical Vacation
All post-workout plans should start with the promise of a reward. Unlike the reward of pounds you gave yourself over the holidays, this reward will be more rewarding. Plan a winter getaway at
TravelZoo.com for yourself and maybe even your sweetheart.
Choose a tropical location or somewhere that requires swimwear. You will be so excited about your trip that your heart will race just thinking about fitting back into your bathing suit.
Ready, Set, Go
Start now, not tomorrow, and not on the next full moon. The best time to start your post-holiday workout plan is today, right now. Stand up, march in place as you read the rest of this. Doesn't that feel better? For more ideas on quick workouts and even on how you can work out at work, check out the quick workouts in the fitness section of
RevolutionHealth.com.
Join an Online Weight-Loss Group
You joined in the festivities and fun with family and friends. Now it's time to put those social skills to work for yourself. Sign up for a free weight-loss group like the one at
RevolutionHealth.com and share ideas and victories with people just like you.
The groups are moderated by a real doctor, so you can expect real tips and advice to help keep you motivated to burn off those extra holiday pounds.
Prioritize Your Budget
What better time to slim down your budget than now? Consider joining an eight-week fitness class or purchasing a short-term membership at the local gym. After all that holiday joy, you may not think you have the money, but look again. Use the
budgeting guides from MainStreet.com or
TheStreet.com to help you find the extra money you need to buy your way to better health.
Know Your BMI
Kick-start your workout plan by determining your body mass index with the fitness toolkit at
Revolutionhealth.com. Or use the
BMI calculator at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Your recommended BMI will help you set a realistic goal for losing those extra pounds.
Rediscover Portions
After a rich and tasty holiday season, you may need a reminder about portion sizes.
Mypyramid.gov provides tips on those and will even give you a printable meal planner to help you start losing weight and eating better today.
Makeover your recipes with tips from
Revolutionhealth.com, which offers healthful recipes to help you reach your good-eating goals.
Burn, Baby, Burn
Inspire yourself to burn those calories by finding out how many calories you can burn while walking or dancing. Use the
physical activity chart from the CDC or
this slideshow.
Commit to You
Finally, make a commitment to yourself -- no ring required.
All you need to do is commit to finding 30 minutes in the day, four days a week, to start the post-holiday calorie burn. Stay hydrated, eat well and get some sleep. Rely on the support of family and friends or those at the weight-loss community at
Revolutionhealth.com.
The best way to burn those holiday calories is create a personalized post-holiday work out plan that fits into your budget, your schedule and your lifestyle. Stick with it like it's the love of your life. It truly is.
