Stay in Shape Through the Holidays: 10 Tricks to Try

Don't neglect your gym during the holidays.
Photo: Alex Castellá, Flickr

So it's the holidays and I'm super busy going to parties, shopping for gifts and generally participating in the festivities. Is it OK if I give up exercise until the first of the year? Figure I can start a whole New Year's Resolution thing. It's not like I'd gain a ton of weight, right? - Hannah O'Connell, West Hurley, N.Y.

As I told you last week, the 35 most fattening days are sandwiched between Thanksgiving and New Years. I also mentioned that the average person gains about a pound during the holiday season -- which doesn't sound like much until you consider that one little pound can become permanent and and eventually you have 10 additional pounds over the course of a decade. This trend not only makes you feel unhappy about the way you look and how your clothes fit but also ups your risk of cancer, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and just about every other lifestyle disease you can name.

Part of the reason for holiday weight gain is that we get so busy we forget to exercise. Last week I gave you tips that mainly centered on how to eat less. This week, I'm offering you 10 ways to make sure you get your butt into high gear and stay there, even though 'tis the season to eat more and move less. It's my gift to you!

Here are my 10 tricks to keep fit this holiday season:

1. Place your workout shoes on the floor next to your bed so you can step right into them when you wake up. (You can wear them to bed but that gets a little weird.)
2. Put your gym gear in an obvious place so you keep spotting it throughout the day.
3. Carry around a spare set of workout gear or leave a set at work so you're ready to go at all times.
4. Post notes around the house or email yourself to workout.
5. Give your friends permission to bug you about working out. For instance, have an exercise buddy send you email, Twitter or IM reminders to workout.
6. Set up an exercise date with a committed buddy who will ride you if you're ever a no-show.
7. Set your watch or smart phone alarm to remind yourself it's time to workout -- and treat it like any other can't-miss appointment with an important client.
8. Hire a personal trainer who will hold you accountable – and charge you – for your workout time.
9. Be open to different exercise options so that if one becomes unavailable to you, you still are left with acceptable choices.
10. Break it up. Do some in the morning and some at night. Or do a set of toning moves every time you go to the bathroom. (If you've got a small bladder this is a fantastic way to get in shape.) You burn the same number of calories whether you do all of your exercise in one shot or in spurts throughout the day. And this is my theory – which is only my theory and not backed up by any scientific data – I think doing mini-workouts throughout the day revs up your temporary post-exercise afterburn several times and may ultimately burn slightly more calories.

Have you got any tricks you use to stay fit during the holidays? If so please share! Next week I'll be sharing 5 fitness gifts under $20 (that really work!)

Liz Neporent is a diet and fitness expert and co-author of "The Fat-Free Truth." She regularly appears on national TV programs and is the president of Wellness 360, a New-York based wellness provider. You can also follow her on Twitter @lizzyfit.