Counting Down to Christmas Feast
As the calendar inches closer to December 25th, the anticipation of indulging in a hearty Christmas dinner grows.
However, British athlete and fitness expert Mica Moore at Mirafit warns that the festive feast comes with a considerable calorie load that may require some extra effort in the gym.
Festive Starters: A Prelude to Calories
Before the main event, festive starters such as smoked salmon and cheese on crackers offer a tempting prelude.
These nibbles, totaling 280 calories, may require a moderate walk of 58 minutes for women and 49 minutes for men to burn off. Mica suggests using this low-intensity exercise as an opportunity to socialize, either with friends or family on a scenic walk.
Christmas Dinner and Its Trimmings: The Caloric Culprit
The centerpiece of the feast, a standard Christmas dinner with a whole turkey and trimmings, amounts to a substantial 1,499 calories.
Mica advises that a vigorous run is the most practical exercise to burn off these calories, with women needing 2 hours and 1 minute and men aiming for around 1 hour and 42 minutes of running.
She suggests spreading the exercise over several days to make it more practical and incorporating other workouts like strength training.
Merry Desserts: Sweet Calories and Weightlifting
No Christmas feast is complete without desserts like Christmas puddings, mince pies, and yule logs, totaling 1,172 calories. Mica recommends breaking down this exercise into manageable portions over a week, with men needing four hours and 22 minutes of weightlifting and women requiring five hours and 10 minutes. Alternating between upper and lower body workouts can ensure a comprehensive approach while allowing muscles to recover.
Christmas Drinks: Cheers and Calories
To cap off the festivities, glasses of mulled wine, eggnog, or classic wine contribute to 1,008 calories. Mica suggests cycling as a way to burn off these calories, with women aiming for one hour and 24 minutes and men targeting one hour and 11 minutes.
Whether cycling outdoors with family or using stationary bikes at the gym, the flexibility of this exercise makes it suitable for various preferences and joint conditions.
Balancing Festivities with Fitness
In the midst of the Christmas cheer, Mica emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between indulgence and fitness.
Her insights provide a practical guide to offsetting the calories consumed during the festive season, ensuring a healthier start to the new year.