Eat the food, lose the weight

Thanksgiving is here which marks the transition into the holiday season. Soon the festivities will begin and for the next month or so, endless platters of sweet and savory foods will be brought out in celebration. If you're worried about eating too much, you could always try to moderate your portions. However, I enjoy the gluttony and prefer to find alternatives to staying healthy while eating the excess food. Keep reading if you're interested in SCO's exercising secrets.

Running

For me personally, running is the easiest and most effective form of exercise. It's free, it can be as long or short as you want and it does not require much skill. It is as simple as putting on a pair of running shoes, going outside and moving your limbs. However, it is getting colder outside so you could either run with warmer clothes on, or run inside on a treadmill.

Classes

Working out

Photo: A Blair senior, Neil Gahart, works out in the school weight room.

A Blair senior, Neil Gahart, works out in the school weight room.  Photo courtesy of Samuel Pinczuk.

Rec Teams

Like most people, I generally have no motivation to exercise on my own. If this sounds like you, but you also are not interested in group classes, recreational sports teams may be good for you. There are plenty of non-competitive winter sports teams to join. Simply google the winter sport you are interested in playing, be it basketball, swimming or any indoor sport, and you are bound find one locally that you can partake in.

YouTube

If you are an antisocial person or you just don't like exercising with others, it's okay I understand, and there are solo alternatives out there for you. Go to YouTube.com and simply type "workout" or "exercise" into the search box and you'll find an array of bodybuilding and heart rate-inducing videos. These are good because you can follow them at your own pacing, in the comfort of your own home. Not to mention they're free!

Personal Trainer

Maybe you do not enjoy exercising in a group, but you also have no motivation to do it on your own or on a recreational sports team. That's okay, there are still options out there for you. It may be a little pricier, however hiring a personal trainer is one of the greatest ways to get in shape. They would give you encouragement to keep you going and assign tough workouts to ensure you stay in shape, or get in shape, during the winter.

Whichever option you decide to try, just always remember to have fun with it. Working out and getting in shape should always be for your own benefit and to make yourself feel good. Just remember to work hard and have a good time.