WITH nearly exactly a month to go until Christmas, many of us are well aware of the need to lose weight before gorging on mince pies.
But fear not, as one of the country's best personal trainers Ben O'Brien has shared his top tips to help you get fitter before the festive season kicks in.
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And Ben certainly has proven experience as one of Barry's Bootcamp's main instructors - where the likes of Harry Styles, David Beckham and Ellie Goulding train.
Ben says: "With so much to celebrate this holiday season, you deserve to feel your best.
"If you just consider some small changes, the endorphins will be flying and you will feel HOT, when it's cold AF."
Here, he takes us through his top tips on how to stay in shape ahead of Christmas.
Instead of waiting around for the busy tube or a stuffy bus ride, Ben recommends heading most places on foot to shed those extra pounds.
In particular, you can burn between 100 to 300 calories if you walk for just 30 minutes at a brisk pace.
Ben says: "Wrap up warm and enjoy the winter scenes whilst also avoiding the mayhem of public transport.
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"Plus, getting your body out in the cold is not a bad thing.
"Cooling your muscles can help avoid DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness).
"Spending 2 mins in a freezing cold space is all the rage right now too, it's called Cryotherapy!"
A recent study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that standing and sitting more frequently can lead to relatively fast, and low effortweight loss.
In particular, they found that standing versus sitting for six hours a day would help a ten stone person burn an extra 54 calories a day.
Add it up over the course of a year, and thats equal to nearly half a stone.
Not only do you burn more calories standing, but it's also better for your posture
Plus, previousstudieshave shown that standing burns about nine additional calories per hour compared to sitting.
Ben says: "This is such a small change but has huge benefits.
"Not only do you burn more calories standing, but it's also better for your posture."
While many people find winter synonymous with weight gain, Ben has recommended thinking of December as a "maintenance month."
He says: "Unless you have a specific plan in place, think of December as the month of maintenance, it might not be the best time to gain or lose.
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"It's unlikely you are going to be able to hit a calorie deficit over the holidays, so it's not the best time to plan to shred."
No one can avoid hitting the dance floor during the festive season - especially when the DJ puts on Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas.
And now Ben has revealed that throwing your favourite shapes on the dance floor could in fact be helping you to stay in shape, literally.
It has even been revealed that a person can burn up to 400 calories during one hour of dancing.
Ben says: "If you like to hit the town, or are celebrating a holiday party get on that dance floor.
"Dancing helps to burn those liquid calories and helps your colleagues and friends see the real you. Nobody puts Baby in the corner."
You don't just need to spend your day rattling away on a keyboard or in meetings with your colleagues.
Ben suggests heading out for a workout or as he puts it "sweatwork" with fellow staff before you hit your work Christmas party.
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And if you're struggling for ideas - he's recommended Barry's Bootcamp's very own Christmas party.
Ben says: "Get your colleagues down to our Red Room for the work Christmas party (with drinks after!).
"Sweatworking is so hot right now."
Continue reading here:
Weight loss: Harry Styles and Ellie Gouldings PT shares his top five tips to blast fat by Christmas - The Sun
