What’s not to love about the holidays? From the delicious foods and cheery movie marathons, to belting out Christmas songs and celebrating with family and friends you haven’t seen in weeks, it’s no wonder it’s called the most wonderful time of the year.
But one too many latkes, gingerbread cookies, or mugs of hot cocoa topped with marshmallows and mounds of whipped cream later, your holiday love suddenly turned into love handles. It’s no surprise that we add on a little extra cushion during winter break—on top of all the delicious holiday treats and drinks, the gym becomes less of a priority when we have so many people to see and so many hours of sleep and TV to catch up on (thank you finals). So instead of beating yourself up about it, commit to trying these five fun ways to shed those few unwanted pounds. With spring break looming and the prospect of being in a bikini getting all too real, there’s no better time than right now to get started!
1. Make it a resolution
The only good thing about gaining weight over the holidays is that it comes right around the beginning of the New Year, a perfect time to have a mental fresh start. By making your weight loss a New Year’s resolution, it’ll give you a sense of purpose that will keep you more committed.
The best ways to make a resolution that you’ll actually stick to are to put it in writing and make a set plan. In your resolution, write what you want to achieve and why. That way, you can look back on it and remind yourself of your goal and its payoff when the going gets tough. Rather than make overly strict, unreasonable “rules” to follow, make general guidelines that give you room to make—yet recover from—slip-ups. For example, instead of “no dessert” you could commit to an occasional small dessert and extra cardio in your next workout for whenever you overindulge. Set dates for when you want to accomplish mini-goals—whether that be losing 1 pound or being able to run for 10 minutes longer—so that you can feel accomplished and keep your motivation high. For more ideas for healthy New Year’s resolutions you can actually keep, check out this HC article.
2. Sign up for classes at your campus gym
Gyms on campus often offer weekly classes every semester. Exercise classes are a great way to get back in shape because they offer a high-energy atmosphere and give you set moves so you know exactly what to do. Look into what classes will be offered at your school this semester and sign up for one or a few! Pick something that you’ll actually enjoy doing, whether it’s Zumba or Pilates or Kickboxing, so that you’ll look forward to it every week as a study break. Signing up with a friend or two will make it even more fun and keep you accountable for actually showing up.
If your campus gym doesn't offer any classes, see if there are any classes offered at gyms or studios in the surrounding area. Rachel, a collegiette at Boston College, says she loves taking barre classes at Pure Barre whenever she has a break in her schedule. Barre and yoga studios are popping up everywhere, and some offer student discounts so check ‘em out!
3. Try a workout video
If you don’t like classes because you’re not a fan of working out around lots of people, trekking to the gym, or cramping your budget, then a workout video can get you the same effects! There are plenty of different workout videos offered for free on YouTube, Netflix, or On Demand, or there are video programs you can buy online such as Insanity or P90X.
Taylor, a sophomore at the University of Michigan, recently started doing Insanity with a friend. Insanity is a 60-day total body-conditioning workout featuring 10 workout DVDs that combine cardio with strength intervals. “It’s a great workout that allows everyone to do cardio at their own level, which makes it really easy to do with friends,” Taylor says. She also adds that it’s really convenient because she can do it in her room or the basement of her house, making it easier to fit into her schedule and better for the cold winter months. “I do it in the winter because I don’t like running in the cold, and it’s a better workout than a treadmill or elliptical,” she says.
4. Sign up for a local race
Signing up for an active event that’s offered through your school or the local community is a fun way to ensure that you get moving. Added bonus: lots of active events combine calorie burning with community service! If your school offers Relay For Life or Dance Marathon, for example, you can raise money for charity while you walk or dance. Many clubs on campus will also sponsor 5k races to raise money, so check out your school’s student activities site to see if anything cool is going on in the next few weeks.
Signing up for a race that will require you to train can be a great motivator—it’ll be harder to make excuses and skip a workout when you know you’ll need it to be able to complete the race. I’m practicing what I preach on this one—my friend and I just signed up for a half marathon in April near our school so that we will be more determined to run several times a week throughout second semester! Never trained for a race before? Check out this HC article on how to train for half and full marathons and this one on how to train for a mud run!
5. Freshen up your diet
With a few extra pounds hanging around in places you don’t want them to be, you may feel bloated and lethargic—or literally weighed down. So in the few weeks that follow your holiday food coma, you’re going to want to eat foods that take away from that feeling, not add to it! It’s important to pay close attention to what you’re eating when you want to lose weight because a healthier diet will not only help you shed pounds, but it’ll also help you feel better in the process. Focus on eating lots of veggies, fruits, lean proteins (like tofu, fish, chicken breast), and whole grains (brown rice, whole wheat bread, oatmeal, quinoa). Try to limit fatty, salty, and sugary foods, as well as packaged foods and refined carbs like white bread and pasta. Small adjustments can make a big difference, so efforts like starting every day with a healthy breakfast or skipping that late-night slice of pizza can go a long way!
So while you may not feel your best upon returning to school after weeks of eating cookies while watching Love Actually for the hundredth time, just know that you can lose that holiday weight in a matter of weeks. Want more tips? Check out this list of 10 weight loss tips that actually work!