Hopefully, we all survived the festive season, the time when we make merry, eat, and drink all in the name CHRISTMAS. BREAKING NEWS!!!!!! Santa’s fit for Christmas. He’s made major changes to the menu so that he can get all those gifts out. He’s really keeping tabs and working on his abs. He makes sure he’s in shape before he comes to town and he wants everyone to join in on this amazing journey. “Eat, drink and keep fit” is what Santa is about during the festive season.
We all know exercise is a fun way to stay fit and healthy but the festive season means a lot of food, and drinks. Loads of unwanted calories enticing you, calling your name to have a taste, have done the damage. And guess who gets blamed when you add the extra weight? I don’t need answer that for you.
I’d like you to ask yourself one simple question “Is Christmas a great time to exercise, or is it the one time of the year when it’s OK to stay on the sofa?” My answer is that the choices you made over the holidays can and will affect you today. What I want you to do, without putting much pressure on yourself, is to ease yourself into a fitness regime this New Year. Don’t give yourself a huge mountain to climb, start now and you will feel fitter and healthier throughout the New Year. You decide!
Let’s run through a few tips to keep you active, fresh, strong and energetic this New Year. What are the easy steps you can follow to help you stay fit and what kind of healthy lifestyle plan should you create?
- Exercising has to be fun and exciting. Just being a bit more active can make a difference in burning off extra calories. Remember do what you enjoy, create something that is fun, involve family and friends so it’s team work. There are a wide range of different exercises you can pick from, ranging from Aerobic classes, dance classes, beach soccer, running, spinning classes, house chores with the kids, washing the car with family and so on. The most important thing is that you are moving and being more active. If you haven’t exercised in a while please make sure you consult with your doctor, start slow and gradually work your energy level up
- Be realistic and set goals. Spend time planning your health and fitness goals, ensuring they are challenging but realistic. Be positive, confident and believe in yourself that you have what it takes to achieve them.
- Be patient. Fitness and weight loss don’t happen overnight. It’s important to have a time frame for your goal. Set mini goals to work with as you proceed – the idea is to give you something more immediate and simple to aim for, and help you build confidence in yourself.
- Keep a Fitness and diet journal to monitor your progress, see where you can adjust when you falter and help motivate you to stay focused on your goals.
- Get lean and fit this New Year with Santa’s amazing workout routine. He calls it FITMAS!!
Warm up
- Jog on one spot for 1 minute (rest 20 seconds)
- Dance to your favourite music for 1 minute (rest 20 seconds)
- Jump Jacks for 40 seconds (rest for 20 seconds)
- Dance to your favourite music for 1 minute (rest 20 seconds)
- Jog on one spot for 1 minute (rest 20 seconds)
FITMAS Workout: Set your playlist according to the list below so your Fitmas workout is exciting, invite family and friends to join in this process, try to perform 10 repetitions of each exercise* with as little rest as possible. Then repeat the circuit as many times as you can manage.
- Shoki Squats
- Skelewu Lunges
- Ojuelegba Burpees
- Anointing Renegades
- Emergency high knees
- Dance for me Press ups
- Sample You Mountain Climbers
- Eleko Crunches
- Bank Alert Bunny Hops
- Bad gang Star Jumps
- Ohema Leg Raises
- Ibile Plank (just 1×60 second hold)
Seun Fadina, CEO BFS LIFESTYLE is a Professional Fitness Consultant and creator of a dance fitness experience called DANCE2GETFIT. He offers personal training services to customers with different needs and health conditions. He has had several television and radio appearances on Nigeria’s leading media outlets including Mtv Base, 53 Extra, EbonyLife TV, Rhythm 93.7, Classic FM, Smooth FM, Super Sports, Inspiration FM, 1 Music, as well as contributions to Ovation Magazine, Etisalat Geek Force Internship Contest 2013, The GAME 2013 and several Corporate Organizations. He presently hosts the fitness segment on the Good Morning Nigeria show (COOL TV). He is also the Personal Fitness Trainer for – Dodan Warriors 1st Division Professional Basketball Team, and celebrities within the Fashion, Entertainment and Art industries.
