Cold mornings. Dark nights. The heady scent of mulled wine wafting out of every pub. Mince pies filling every pastry display in sight.
It can be difficult to find the motivation to exercise at the best of times, but there's something even sweeter about tucking into winter's finest foodie offerings when your day's workout is behind you.
Wellbeing is all about balance, and as a woman who has always followed her stomach, who am I to tell you to turn your back on the most indulgent flavours of the season?
Instead, find balance between tough training and worthy treats with these two 15-minute HIIT workouts designed to fit around your festive schedule.
The following circuits are effective enough to kickstart your metabolism and elevate your energy levels, and short enough to complete in the time it takes to read this article.
You could be mistaken for thinking Christmas has come early.
HIIT How To: Both of the following circuits comprise of 5 exercises
Complete each exercise for 45 seconds, then rest for 15 seconds before moving onto the next exercise.
Repeat from the top for a total of three rounds.
Congratulate yourself for 15 minutes well spent.
Winter Warmer HIIT
Best for: Turning up your body's natural thermostat without Michelin Man layering.
Why? This circuit emphasises full body movements, recruiting maximum muscle fibres in a single exercise in order to boost blood flow and achieve toasty all-over warmth.
Cactus Squats: Assume a mid-stance squat position with your arms like a cactus – elbows shoulder height and bent to 90 degrees.
As you rise through your heels, extend your arms overhead and squeeze your shoulder blades.
Cue a newfound warmth in your legs and back.
Alternating Single Leg Deadlifts: From standing, hinge from the hips and send one leg straight back until your body forms a T shape parallel with the floor.
Contract your core and slowly return to standing, switching legs every rep.
Wait for those hamstrings to get hot, hot, hot.
Rolling Press-ups: Take a wide press-up, shifting your weight to one hand as you extend your arms and rolling the top arm to the ceiling.
Hover in side plank for a second before returning to your press-up and rolling to the other side.
Chest, core and arms will be firing on all cylinders.
Slow Cross Body Climbers: Hold a high plank position with your shoulders above your hands and your navel drawn in.
Exhale and slowly bring one knee to the opposite elbow, holding for a moment at the top as you hollow your abdomen. Exhale fully with every twist and squeeze.
Heel Touch Jump Squats: Sink into a deep squat and tap your fingertips to your heels before pushing into a powerful vertical jump.
Land with soft knees and repeat until you feel something sizzling.
Festive Detox HIIT
Best for: Balancing out the booziest of social calendars and resetting the status quo the morning after the night before.
Why? Sweating is one of the best ways to detoxify your body when the latest Christmas party has taken its toll.
Plyometric drills and speed-focused exercises will open your pores and clear any residual mental fog.
Inchworm Shoulder Taps: From standing, roll down to your feet and walk your hands out to a high plank position.
Lock in your abs and stabilise your hips while tapping your one hand to the opposite shoulder, then repeat to the other side.
Jump Lunge Burpees: Complete two full jump lunges, landing with soft feet and dropping the back knee to 90 degrees.
Now plant your hands and shoot your feet back into a high plank, landing gently on your toes. Jump your feet back in and repeat from the top.
Squat Alternate Kicks: Take a deep hip-width squat and send one heel out into a powerful forward kick as you rise to stand on the other. As satisfying for the mind as it is for the body.
High Low Climbers: Perform 10 standing high knee sprints followed by 10 mountain climbers on the floor, maintaining braced abs and unwavering commitment throughout. You're leaving last night's excesses behind you with every knee drive.
Ski Jumps: Get into a squat position with your thighs and feet close together, driving through your heels to land in the same position at a 45 degree angle.
Continue jumping at an angle like you're skiing down a mountain – and towards a clear, hangover-free head.
Brit Williams is the founder of Fit Brit Collective. Between training clients, hosting fitness pop-ups and teaching her signature high-energy SW London classes, she works with ELLE to bring you the latest fitness news, trends and advice. Her fitness philosophy is simple – the endorphins you earn have the greatest power to transform.
