Use the holidays to get fit

The festive season is here, bringing with it Christmas trees, seasonal cheer, and festive overindulgence.

It is a time to enjoy yourself and have fun but it is also important to maintain a balanced eating and exercise plan. Indeed, while you’re away from work and have time to spare, you have the opportunity to embrace a healthier lifestyle before it’s time to make your New Year’s resolutions for 2016.

Here are some top tips from Mr Bryan McLachlan, the CEO at direct life insurer Instant Life, for a fitter you over the December holidays:

•  Get your body moving: Take advantage of your time off work and get in a couple of hours of exercise each day. If you’re going away and don’t have access to your usual gym or golf course, make a point of going for a walk in the forest or for a jog on the beach. Walk rather than drive to local shops and restaurants. If you have children, try to keep up with them for a real fitness challenge.
•  Depressurise: If you don’t need to commute each day, you’ll be able to have a bit of a lie-in each morning and ensure that you get a good seven to eight hours of sleep each night. Take in some fresh air, relax with a book, spend quality time with your children, and go for long some relaxing walks in the countryside.
•  Eat healthy food: Though many of us see the festive season as a time for feasting, it is actually the perfect opportunity to embrace better eating habits. If you’re not constantly on the rush and on-the-go, you have time for wholesome home cooking rather than relying on the work canteen or takeaways. Cooking at home can be fun when you’re researching new recipes, shopping for fresh ingredients, and preparing delicious meals with your family.
•  Drink in moderation: Alcohol is one of the biggest health and safety risk factors over the Christmas season, so drink in moderation. It is a major factor in many road accidents, so don’t chance drinking and driving, even if you’ve only had a drink or two.
•  Ask Santa for a fitness tracker: If you want to set fitness goals and stay motivated, why not invest in a fitness tracker such as a FitBit, Jawbone, or Apple Watch? The great thing about these devices is that they can add some fun into your fitness routine by letting you gamify your progress and share your stats with your friends. Why not give your spouse or a friend a fitness tracker, too? Don’t be too surprised to find out that certain life insurers give you a better premium if you share your fitness tracker data with it. For example, Instant Life’s Fitlife Policy comes with a Fitbit Flex™ Activity Tracker, offering discounts to users who simply track and share their activity for six consecutive months.