Take December off and get fat

We are now near the end of November and this is the time of year it gets easy to miss workouts. It's cold outside, Christmas is approaching, and life just seems to get busier. Next thing you know, it is mid-January and you haven't exercised for almost two months.

Will a little time off cause you to pack on some weight? You know it. But how much depends on a number of factors.

• How much time you end up taking off
• Your current fitness level
• Your fitness history
• How many calories you take in

If you only just started exercising regularly a few months ago, then you should keep your break to two or three days. For an advanced athlete, or someone with a long history of exercise, then it can be stretched to one week. But there is definitely no excuse to take more than one week off completely.

If you are really pressed for time then shorten your workouts, but increase the intensity. The bare minimum for workouts should be three per week, and they can be kept to 30 minutes. Also refer to High Intensity Interval Training.

Also read - Will a few weeks off from exercise hurt me? (G & M - Nov. 21, 2008)
Thanks for the article Andrew.