After three weeks of inactivity, muscle sizes can decrease, blood flow becomes less efficient and overall aerobic capacity starts disappearing, according to an article by the Chicago Tribune.

However after a Thanksgiving feast of turkey and potatoes, staying in a workout routine over the holiday breaks can seem like an unpleasant chore. Combine a week of turkey, three weeks of intense schoolwork and finals, along with a month of catching up on sleep during Winter Break, and it’s easy to see why some people can gain an extra five pounds during the holiday season.

“I like to rest over break,” said Katie Carver, senior in agronomy and horticulture. “I feel lazy and wake up late and don’t feel motivated to do anything.”

Mackenzie White, junior in psychology, agreed. “It’s easier for me to stay motivated during school. Seeing the people around me staying motivated makes it easier so I like to workout with friends when I’m home.”

Men’s Fitness Magazine shared some tips on how to stay motivated through the holidays:

1. Get up and go early: With family and friends vying for time during the day, try to get a workout done in the morning while everyone is still in bed.
2. Recruit a training partner: Finding an exercise buddy can make getting up on those cold mornings much more bearable. It also makes it easier to hold each other accountable.
3. Get more people involved: Involve the whole family by doing an outdoor activity or signing everyone up for a fun, 5k run.
4. Work toward something: Set a new goal to work toward during the break to keep you motivated and driven.

Jim Hahn, a junior in biology, has just begun training for a half marathon in the spring. While winter can be a challenging season to run in, Hahn plans to continue training despite the cold weather.

“I like the idea of preventative medicine, staying healthy to better fight off other things, like diseases,” Hahn explained. “If I’m staying more active, I feel better about myself physically and mentally. Also there’s not a lot to do during break, and I get bored. So it’s really like a ‘Why not?’ type of deal.”