We are little over a week away from Christmas Day itself so I imagine you are already or about to get into seemingly endless rounds of parties, boxes of chocolates all over the office and being thrown out of your regular routine.
I’m not going to go all Grinch and say you should avoid all the mince pies, chocolates and mulled wine this festive season as firstly it would be very hypocritical as I certainly won’t be and secondly you would ignore me anyway!
However apparently the average person eats around 6000 calories on Christmas Day! Now if like me you have to do a Christmas Dinner with your own family, then the In laws and add to that Christmas Parties with colleagues and friends that’s a fair amount of extra calories going in.
Your horse is not going to appreciate you riding like a weighted slug come January 2018.
So, let’s call this damage limitation or maintenance-who wouldn’t be pleased to reach 2018 at least the same weight they left 1st December 2017?
Here are some simple tips to help you do just that!
- If you are short on time, try riding for a little less time but with more focus and intensity. Obviously don’t skip a warm up and cool down, but 20 15-20 mins of continuous trotting and cantering and minimal breaks will have both you and your horse working up a sweat in half the time of your usual ride. Think of it as HIIT session for you and your horse!
- Keep to your own exercise regime as much as possible. Even if it means doing shorter workouts, at least try and do 3-4 workouts a week over the Christmas period 20 mins at least. I promise you will find it a million times easier to get back into a regular workout regime – or indeed a new fitness goal regime come 2018.
- Decide which treats you really want in advance and ignore the others. Let’s be honest it gets to a point where we are eating anything and everything put in front of us. Have an arrangement with yourself that you only really want certain things as an indulgence for example if you can’t be without Mince Pies and Quality Street; fine but skip the Christmas cake and Pringles.
- Load up on the good stuff. Turkey and Vegetables along with Satsumas, Chestnuts and Dates are abundant at this time of year so fill up on these healthy options so that you are less likely to over indulge on the naughty stuff. You can save the Carrots for your horse though I guess.
- Christmas is a great time to incorporate more walking into your week. The Christmas shopping alone can be a workout trekking up and down the shops. Also use the extra time off for maybe a walk in the morning or after Christmas lunch. All those extra steps can add up.
- If you have some time off why not use the time to do those jobs such as a full muck out, tidying the much heap or sweeping the yard. All guaranteed to work up a sweat if you do them at a time saving brisk pace.
So ride your horse, tidy the muck heap, eat your vegetables and enjoy your mince pie!
