Holiday shopping can be a workout, and you should treat it like one. You wouldn't run a marathon without training first, and Black Friday can be just as strenuous. So why not take the same approach to your holiday shopping as you would to participating in a sporting event? You can use the weeks leading up to Black Friday as an opportunity to get in shape and shed a few pounds before the holiday festivities that inevitably will help you gain some of those pounds back. Here are some tips from Resurgens Spine Center you can use to prepare for the holiday shopping season.

Endurance Training

When you hit the mall, you may be in it for the long haul. Without the proper preparation, remaining standing while carrying bags can be hard on the back. You can get ready by taking walks in the weeks leading up to the big day. You can walk outdoors, or use a treadmill or elliptical machine if you choose. No matter how you do it, getting your heart, lungs, and leg muscles in shape will go a long way toward making your Black Friday easier on your body. Not only will your endurance improve, but your back muscles will become stronger as they absorb the small impacts your body is receiving with each step.

Strength Training

There's no doubt you'll end up carrying some heavy shopping bags this Black Friday. So how can you prepare? Try doing a Farmer's Walk! This exercise has been practiced by strongman contestants for decades as a way to improve the strength and muscular endurance of the shoulders, back, forearms, and hands. All you have to do is walk around while carrying a dumbbell in each hand. Do it for as long as you can, until your forearms and shoulders are absolutely burning. Take a break and then do it again. This exercise simulates carrying something heavy on each side of your body (like a fully-loaded shopping bag) and you can even do it in conjunction with your endurance training to improve your strength and cardiovascular health at the same time!