How to lose Christmas weight the Hungarian way?

From savoury stuffed cabbage to tasty walnut bejgli, the most magical time of the year always proves to be a real challenge to maintain a healthy diet and avoid gaining extra pounds during this period. After having gorged on tons of delicious Christmas food, you are probably pondering on the thought of how you will ever shed all those extra pounds in the new year. Whilst we all deserve a treat now and again, this article will give you some handy tips on how to lose Christmas weight in a fun way. We have also thought of those readers who do not qualify as sporty types. If the idea of exercising already gives you cold sweats, we have prepared a couple of alternative ideas that also help burn some calories.

Go for a hike in Hármashatárhegy or Normafa

What could be a better way to clear your head after the long working week than going for a hike in the forest? One of the best things about hiking is that it is always fun plus it will not cost you a thing to break a sweat. Hitting the treadmill gets boring and monotonous after a while. So forget the fancy gym membership and lace up your hiking boots to enjoy some relaxing time in the great outdoors. Hiking can burn a whopping 400 calories an hour. The changing trails and the uneven terrain will help melt off that stubborn Christmas weight in no time! Also, the fact that you can breathe in the fresh forest or mountain air during your hike makes it a real pleasure. It is easy to lose yourself in nature’s beauty and almost forget that you are getting exercise. 

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Run 5K on Margaret Island

Many people chose running as their go-to cardio workout to shed the Christmas weight. We understand that just getting out the door can pose a real challenge, especially in this cold. To make the process smoother, make a routine by having your running gear set out the night before.

It also helps if you plan a destination run which could be picking a brunch spot on Margaret Island to reward your Sunday run.

Just in case you need extra motivation, besides being an excellent fat burner running has other brilliant health benefits as well. It strengthens and tones your leg and core muscles, cuts down the risk of osteoporosis by increasing bone density, boosts your circulation as well as improves your mood. Dust off those sneakers and get yourself a running buddy who will push you to meet your fitness goals. 

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Head to the City Park Ice Rink

Who would have thought that you can burn a crazy number of calories by doing your favourite winter sport? Yes, that is right. Ice skating can burn 640-850 calories per hour. Putting that into retrospect, powerwalking, which is obviously less fun, only burns 600 calories. This high-intensity exercise really requires your body to work hard to convert calories and stored fat into energy, besides it also nicely tones your leg muscles. So pop on your skates and head to the panoramic City Park Ice Rink for a much-needed workout. Choosing a type of sport that you really enjoy will reduce the need to nag yourself to get stuff done. It is also a great activity for family days or romantic dates. Once your knuckles start to freeze, warm yourself up with a mug of deliciously aromatic mulled wine. You deserve it after all the hard work you did on the ice rink. 

Burn calories by cleaning up the mess

Cleaning up after the holidays can be a real pain in the neck. When you look at the mountainous piles of dirty dishes in the sink, you just want to swear off Christmas celebrations for good. Hoovering the carpet to get rid of those pesky pine needles is also no one’s favorite pastime activity. While hustling and bustling in the house, you probably envy those lucky people who have more time for self-care after they get home from work.

You do not have to worry about not finding time to make it to the gym class. There is a more productive way to keep fit and that is called housework.

Here are some random facts that will blow your mind. Scrubbing the bathroom for 30 minutes can burn 200 calories, washing the dishes for half an hour can burn 160 calories, and 30 minutes of vacuuming can burn 90 calories. You see? Housework can perfectly count as part of your active lifestyle. 

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Take your furry friend to Népliget

Perhaps it is not just you but also your doggie who gained some Christmas weight after all the sausages and frankfurters he got as extra treats during the holidays. Set your fitness goals together and hit the nearest park for a nice stroll. A 30-minute walk can burn anywhere between 90 to 200 calories depending on how often your pet stops to sniff a pole or greet another dog. Long walks or runs also build a stronger relationship between the two of you and make the weight loss journey more fun. Your furry buddy can actually be the best personal trainer around. On those gloomy winter days when you do not feel like getting off the couch, your dog will whine and nudge until he gets his daily exercise. What could be a better motivator than that sad, dopey face when he really wants to go for a walk outside? 

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Melt Christmas weight while running errands

This is, we know, by no means a groundbreaking tip, nor will it magically transform you into a fitness model. However, anything can be better than sitting on the sofa binge-watching your favourite series. Nowadays, the average person spends around 8-10 hours a day sitting. This kind of sedentary lifestyle unsurprisingly leads to bad health and weight gain in the long run. So the next time you are about to get pissed by the long queue in front of you and start silently cursing the Hungarian bureaucracy or all the other customers who came to return their unwanted Christmas gifts the same day as you, think about the fact that waiting in line and running errands can burn anywhere from 100 to 200 calories an hour.

By the time you are done with all that nuisance, you have already burned the calories of one or two Pilóta biscuits.