Diet & Fitness 

Advertisement

Fit for Christmas

Christmas can be demanding as well as fun, so why not get in shape for it with a fitness blitz

Enjoyable though it may be, at Christmas we put our bodies through a lot of physical and mental stress. We eat too much, drink too much, shell out money we don't have and spend time with family members who drive us crazy.

You still have plenty of time to get yourself in shape for all this. Follow this pre-Christmas routine 3 times a week to boost your metabolic rate, and complement it with at least 2 aerobic sessions such as swimming, walking or cycling. We promise you’ll feel fit and ready for anything.

1. Warm up and stretch

To warm up skip, jog or do jacks for five minutes. When you do your stretches do not bounce.

Calf stretch
Stand facing a wall with your right foot close to the wall and your right knee bent. Place your hands flat against the wall at shoulder height. Now stretch your left leg out behind you as far as it will go, without lifting your heel off the floor, and lean towards the wall. Hold for 10 to 30 seconds and relax. Switch legs.

Quad stretch (front of thigh)
Stand with your right hand pressed against the back of a chair or wall. Bend your left knee and bring your left heel up to your bottom, grasping your foot with your left hand. Your back should be straight, and your shoulders, hips and knees should all be in line. Hold for 10 to 30 seconds. Switch legs.

Hamstring stretch (back of thigh)
Stand up straight and place your right foot on a table, bench or chair, so that your leg is almost parallel to the floor. Slowly move your hands down your right leg towards your ankle until you feel tension on the underside of your thigh. Try to lean forward from the hips, keeping your back straight from the tailbone to the top of your head. Hold for 10 to 30 seconds. Switch legs.

Triceps stretch
Stand with your feet slightly apart and your knees soft. Bring your right arm up and over your head, so that you pretend to pat yourself on the back. With the arm in this position, use your left hand to gently press the right elbow back slightly. Repeat on the other side. Hold for 10 to 30 seconds.

Biceps stretch
Hold your right arm straight out to the side and place your palm flat against a wall. Now turn your body away from the wall (45 degrees) so you are looking over your left shoulder. Next rotate your right shoulder forward without moving your hand. Hold for 10 to 30 seconds. Switch sides.

Shoulder stretch
Stand with your feet slightly apart and your knees soft. Hold your arms out in front of you, so that your palms are facing away from you. Now place your right palm on top of the back of your left hand, and use it to push the left hand further away from you.

RATE IT

Delicious     Digg     reddit     Facebook     StumbleUpon

  Get the latest iVillage news on your desktop    Sign up for more iVillage RSS feeds

© iVillage Limited 2000-2008. All rights reserved. | © iVillage inc. 1995-2008. All rights reserved.
iVillage Ltd is a UK company registered in England & Wales (3837269) at 80-110 New Oxford Street, London WC1 1HB