WITH the holidays just around the corner, there?s a great chance to set aside one?s fitness routine and disregard healthy meals.

Think about the consequences if you will temporarily stop the habit, let?s say for a month:

If you discontinue weight training, lean mass will decrease, strength will deteriorate and so is your resting metabolic rate (ability to burn calories even while at rest).

Absence of cardio exercises like jogging, cycling or group fitness class will result in decline in endurance. This also means inability to burn calories.

Inactivity might weaken your control over eating. You can easily get tempted to eat fatty foods during celebrations.

Here are practical fitness strategies you can do this holiday season.

Party workout

You will surely be invited to a series of parties starting early December until the end of the season.

So, volunteer to be a part of the celebration. If there?s none, suggest dance presentations so you will have to spend more time rehearsing before the big day. If you practice at least an hour a day, that?s equivalent to an hour of dance class.

Out-of-town exercise

Walk at least an hour a day on the beach which could be 15 minutes after waking up, after lunch, after snack time or after dinner. If you plan to visit Boracay, make it a point to at least walk from Stations 1-3 everyday which is equivalent to 4 km.

If running has been a part of your workout, bring running shoes and jog in the morning or in the afternoon. Aside from walking, swim or jog in water for 20-30 minutes a day.

When going abroad

You will definitely shop and look for something unique when you are away from home. Bring a pedometer. Walking is still the best physical activity.

Based on my clients? records, whenever they go to countries like China, Singapore or Hong Kong, the least amount of steps they complete in a day without much effort is about 7,000 steps. Others can even go beyond 20,000 steps per day. This is equivalent to four-12 km per day.

Home workout

Create your mini gym at home for less than P2,000. Purchase a pair of dumbbells for resistance training. For women, choose a pair of three-five lbs, and for men, an adjustable pair of dumbbells with plates.

Get an exercise ball for core workout. A step bench is great for exercises like step-ups. Of course, don?t forget your exercise mat for your floor exercises. You can also buy home video workout for variety and fun.

Do household chores like sweeping and mopping the floor, dusting, washing clothes and rearranging your things. Use the stairs as often as you can and walk outside your house early in the morning or after dinner.

E-mail the author at mitchfelipe@gmail.com