If you’re anything like us, you probably gained some weight after the holidays. Who could resist our traditional holiday feasts that include scrumptious Filipino food? Eating too much can be a pain, literally – if you eat too much in the Philippines, generic medicines are there to help ease the stomachaches.
As for the weight gain, it’s just the same old trick – eat right and exercise. The secret to losing weight, for the most part, is commitment and being realistic with your goals and process. Rather than sticking to a very restrictive diet for a week (and then giving it up altogether), create a diet plan that allows you to eat the yummy albiet slightly unhealthy things you love sparingly. Realize that you may never look like the girls in the magazines (trust us, they don't look like that in real life either) but still commit to becoming a better version of you. Stick to workouts that you can enjoy and can do regularly. Here are some exercises for you to start with.
Glute Bridge
Set up your yoga mat and lie flat on top. Bend your knees and place your feet flat on the floor. Lift your hips to form a straight line from your shoulders to your knees. Raise your right knee towards your chest area. Lower it down after a few moments. Repeat the same process with your left knee. Do this exercise for 1 minute.
Inverted Shoulder Press
Start this exercise by being in a push-up position. Have your hands placed a bit wider than your shoulder-width apart on the mat. Now, lift your hips and form an inverted “V” while moving your feet to your hands. Bend your elbows until your head is almost touching the mat. Pause for several seconds then return to your position in the beginning. Keep repeating the movements until you reach 1 minute.
Alternating Lunge
Stand up straight then place your right foot forward. Lunge by bending your knees and lowering your body. Return to your starting position by pressing your right heel. Step your right leg back to do another lunge. This time, press your left heel to get back into a standing position. Repeat the whole exercise for about 1 minute.
Skater Hops
Stand up straight and rest your body’s pressure on your left leg with your knees and hips slightly bent. Extend your left ankle and knee to jump forward. Land on your right foot’s ball and bend your knees and hips slightly to feel the landing’s impact. Now, jump off towards your right using your left leg. Continue this process for 1 minute.
Rotating T Extension
Start this exercise in a push-up position. Straighten your arms. Move your weight to your left arm and rotate your torso to the right. Lift your right hand towards the ceiling to form the letter “T” with your body. Hold this position for a few seconds then return to doing a push-up posture. Now, repeat the process with the other side and do the whole process over again for a full minute.
Skipping Exercise
No, this does not mean to skip doing exercises. Take a skipping rope or a jumping rope. Jump for 30 seconds. For the first 20 seconds, do normal jumps. Do more intensive jumps in the last 10 seconds.
Complete a whole workout set by doing all these exercises from top to bottom. Add or replace a few of the moves every so often so you don't plateau and continue to see progress. Don’t forget to eat healthy so you can be sure to lose those holiday pounds and feel great in no time!