According to an article in the New York Times the average person gains 7 to 10 pounds during the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. That’s a lot of extra “holiday cheer” for a person to gain in a one month period.

We know that the holidays are meant for giving, so how about giving your health and the environment the perfect gift by greening your exercise routine.

How to Green Your Exercise Routine

You may not think that a few simple actions can help you lose weight and reduce your carbon footprint at the same time, but if you follow these tips you’ll be well on your way to a green exercise routine:

Try a Reusable Water Bottle

Staying hydrated is important when you exercise, so instead of buying a pack of bottled water and creating more plastic waste how about using a stainless steel or recycled water bottle that you can wash and reuse again.

Organic Eats

Get your energy boost with organic cereal and granola bars, or try a homemade smoothie by mixing organic yogurt, orange juice and fruit together in a blender.

You don’t need an exercise machine that uses electricity to help you burn calories. You can always get your green exercise by walking, running or riding a bike around a park or neighborhood. You can even take along biodegradable bags and pick up trash and recyclable aluminum cans along the way to help clean up your surroundings.

Dress the Part

Whether you need a sports bra, running shorts or workout sneakers you can always find clothing and accessories made from organic cotton, recycled fabric, bamboo and other natural ingredients. You should also donate your old workout clothes to thrift stores.

Plant a Garden

If you have a backyard with available space or know someone who does then you can get a weekly workout by planting a garden. All the digging, planting, watering and weeding will give you a great workout every time you visit the garden, plus you can eat your organic fruits and vegetables as a healthy meal! To be extra eco friendly you can reuse rainwater caught in a barrel to water the plants.

Save Water: Wash Your Towels Less

Most likely you are going to take a shower after a heavy workout. If you use a towel to wipe away sweat you don’t have to wash it after its first use. Reuse the towel a few times more since you’re going to take a shower anyways. This will help conserve water because you’ll be using the washing machine less.

Natural Deodorants

Many deodorants contain harmful ingredients such as aluminum and formaldehyde, so freshen up after your hard workout by using deodorants made from all natural plant-based ingredients. Also, make sure that the product is certified “cruelty-free” to prove that it has not been tested on animals.

You shouldn’t practice these tips only during the holidays. You should make them a part of your daily routine. You’ll not only get in shape and help out the environment, but you’ll also get a gift every day of the year instead of just on one day.