Ah, the festive period, a time to celebrate and enjoy plenty of good food and the odd tipple or two! In the darkest days of winter, you can always rely on Christmas and New Year to brighten things up and bring a little cheer to the table.
Of course, then January happens, and we find ourselves feeling a little bloated and perhaps a pound or two overweight. The dark days of January can also leave us feeling flat and unmotivated.
If that sounds familiar, then don’t worry. Dig out those trainers, call some mates, and head down to the astro pitch. 5-a-side football is the perfect tonic to lift those January blues and burn off all those excess calories.
5-a-side football – Burning off the Christmas excess
For calorie-burning exercises, it is hard to beat 5-a-side football. Firstly, 5-a-side football is fantastic fun, and when it comes to exercise, this is very important (especially in the height of winter) – When exercise is fun, it is so much easier to motivate yourself to get out there and do it, and it doesn’t get much more fun than 5-a-side football.
But that is only the start, 5-a-side football is also one of the best calorie-burning exercises there is. The stop-start nature of the game means there are short periods of intense activity. This type of exercise is renowned for its calorie-burning effect.
The facts below show just how effective 5-a-side football is when it comes to shifting the effects of all that festive excess.
Calories Burned During 5-a-side Football
Pinning an exact figure to the calories burned during a 5-a-side match is difficult. Everyone is different, and how a body responds to exercise will vary from individual to individual.
However, estimates from reliable sources place the figure at between 500 and 750 calories. Either way, this is a great and fun way to burn off some excess calories. The table below gives some more detail about how 5-a-side football can burn off those festive pounds.
(The table uses an average burn rate of 625 calories per hour)
| Time | Calories Burned | Equivalent |
| 10 mins | 104 | A good-sized glass of red wine |
| 20 mins | 208 | An average pint of beer or lager |
| 30 mins | 312 | A slice of lemon meringue pie |
As you can see, a few games of 5 a side is a fun and effective way to restore your body to its pre-Christmas splendour! But, as we discuss next, the benefits of 5-a-side football stretch to more than just shifting excess pounds.
5-a-side football – Banishing the January blues
When the excitement of the Christmas holidays is over, many of us are left feeling a little flat and unmotivated. Exercise is the perfect way to ease those blues and leave us feeling invigorated and re-energised.
Exercise has long been known as a great restorative for the spirit. The social aspect of 5-a-side football enhances this effect and lifts the January blues leaving you feeling more alert and ready to face the challenges of the year ahead.
Conclusion
This January, why not treat yourself to a game or two of 5-a-side football? Not only will it help to burn off the effects of all that over-indulgence, but it can help re-energise you in what is often the bleakest month of the year.
Astro Park operates Dublin’s best all-weather 5-a-side football facilities. With two locations and fantastic amenities, we can help you burn off those Christmas calories and banish the January blues!
Contact us today for more details about booking a pitch and setting 2023 off on the right foot!
