In my last post I provided you with 3 Healthy Alternatives To Mince Pies. However, if you really can’t resist these festive treats and want to enjoy regular mince pies, one alternative solution is to work them off. In this article I’m going to be showing you how to do just that and listing 10 Ways To Work Off That Mince Pie This Christmas.
An average mince pie contains around 200 calories, so each of the methods listed will show you how to burn off that number of calories by performing a certain activity for a specific amount of time and all the calculations are based on a 68kg (150lb) adult performing the activities.
1) Build A Snowman
Time To Burn Off A Mince Pie: 42 Minutes
Calories Per Hour: 285 Calories
If you’re lucky enough to be enjoying a white Christmas, building a snowman is a great way to work off those mince pies and spend some quality time with the family. Not only is it lots and lots of fun but it also allows you and the family to get outside and top up your vitamin D levels during the winter months.
2) Go Cycling
Time To Burn Off A Mince Pie: 22 Minutes (at 13mph)
Calories Per Hour: 545 Calories (at 13mph)
Cycling is another fantastic way to burn off the calories in mince pies. Not only does it help you burn calories but it also boosts your cardiovascular health, tones up your lower body and is gentle on your joints. If the weather permits it, cycling outdoors is a fantastic way to get some fresh air and work off those mince pie. However, if the weather is bad, you can also use a cycling machine at the gym or head to a spinning class.
3) Go For A Run
Time To Burn Off A Mince Pie: 14 Minutes (at 7.5mph)
Calories Per Hour: 852 Calories (at 7.5mph)
Running is an excellent way to work off those mince pies during the festive period. It also enhances your sleep, strengthens your immune system, boosts your mental fitness and more. The best part is it can be performed inside (on a treadmill) and outside, so regardless of the weather conditions, you can always fit in a run.
4) Go Ice Skating
Time To Burn Off A Mince Pie: 25 Minutes
Calories Per Hour: 476 Calories
Ice skating is another fun family exercise that you can do over the festive period. If you’re lucky enough to have an outdoor ice rink close by, you can take the entire family with you and enjoy the crisp winter air. However, even if your town or city doesn’t have an outdoor ice rink, an indoor rink is equally effective and will allow you to all burn off the calories in those mince pies.
5) Go Sledding
Time To Burn Off A Mince Pie: 26 Minutes
Calories Per Hour: 468 Calories
Sledding is a really enjoyable family activity and a surprisingly effective way to work off those mince pies this Christmas. While sliding down the hill doesn’t burn off many calories, climbing back up it burns quite a few. All you need is a sled, some snow, a steep hill (which you should be able to find at your local park) and you’re good to go.
6) Go Swimming
Time To Burn Off A Mince Pie: 18 Minutes
Calories Per Hour: 660 Calories
If your local swimming pool isn’t closed for Christmas and you’re not a fan of the cold winter weather, swimming is a brilliant way to work off those mince pies. Not only does swimming allow you to stay warm as you exercise but it also gives you a full body workout, tones up your muscles, enhances your cardiovascular fitness and much more.
7) Have A Snowball Fight
Time To Burn Off A Mince Pie: 38 Minutes
Calories Per Hour: 319 Calories
Snowball fights are another fantastic snow based activity that you can use to burn off those excess mince pie calories. All you need to get started is some snow and a group of willing friends or family members. Then simply split off into teams, prepare your snowballs and get ready to duck, dive, dodge and have plenty of fun in the process.
8) Make Snow Angels
Time To Burn Off A Mince Pie: 56 Minutes
Calories Per Hour: 214 Calories
Making snow angels is a further fun family activity that you can do if you’re lucky enough to be enjoying a white Christmas. Simply lie in the snow, wave your arms and legs and slowly but surely work off that mince pie as you make beautiful angels in the snow.
9) Play Ice Hockey
Time To Burn Off A Mince Pie: 22 Minutes
Calories Per Hour: 546 Calories
Ice hockey is a perfect activity if you want to burn off the calories in your mince pie in competitive style. All you need is some willing friends and family members who can skate, some ice hockey skates, some ice hockey goals, an ice hockey puck and an empty ice rink. Once you have all this, split yourselves into two teams and get ready for a calorie burning game of ice hockey.
10) Shovel Some Snow
Time To Burn Off A Mince Pie: 22 Minutes
Calories Per Hour: 546 Calories
If your drive gets blocked up with snow every Christmas, clearing away that snow is a functional and effective way to work off that mince pie. Simply grab a shovel, get stuck in and by the time you’ve finished, you’ll have worked off more than enough calories to treat yourself to a mince pie.
Summary
I hope the suggestions in this article help you work off the mince pies you consume this Christmas. While you should still try to moderate your intake of these festive treats, eating the odd mince pie and working it off is a great way to enjoy them without letting the excess calories have a negative impact on your waistline. So, every time you indulge in a mince pie this Christmas, choose an exercise off this list, work it off and enjoy :).
Now I want to hear from you guys. What’s your favourite way to work off those mince pies? Do you have any other methods you use to compensate for the calories in mince pies? If so, let me know by leaving a comment below. Also, please Like, +1, Pin or Tweet this post, so that as many mince pie lovers as possible can learn how to work off those mince pies.