Then make sure 2013 is the year you try something new. Here, we track down five quirky alternative workouts to rid you of those festive calories.

 

Hula-hoop

Prancing around with a hula hoop is a great way to lose weight – you can burn up to 100 calories for every 10 minutes you spend doing these retro rotating pelvic thrust movements.

Hoop dancing is an all-round fitness winner as it works your love handles and also has extreme cardio-factor.

Hula-hoop fanatics also claim there’s something very zen about their activity – they say they do it for therapeutic reasons and even as a form of meditation. 

Price: £9.50 per class or £48 for six weeks.

When and where: Weds, 7.30pm-8.30pm. 
Hornsey Parish Church Hall, N10 3AH. 
hoopswhirled.com

Kangaroo jumping 

This kooky class is entirely dedicated to jumping like a roo.

The organisers have bought a whole bunch of special jumpy shoes (called Kangoo Jumps), which you wear during the class.

The bizarre footwear allows you to bounce up and down like Skippy, but it’s low impact, so it doesn’t cause damage to your feet or legs.

In this high-energy aerobics class, they promise you’ll burn twice as many calories in the same time as you would without the super-special footwear.

Price: £58pcm membership for all classes.

When and where: Tues, 7pm. Gymbox
71 Lombard Street, EC3V 9AY. 
gymbox.co.uk

 

Bell ringing 

Bells are heavy. So heavy, in fact, they worklike weights. So, bell ringing offers a hugely fun way to get fit.

Join this group in creating jingles and benefit from improved reaction time, balance, muscle endurance, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness.

Plus, you’ll also make a bunch of new mates!

Price: Free.

When and where: 7.30-9.30pm Tues. St James
Thurland Road, Bermondsey, SE16 4AA8. 
docklandsringers.co.uk

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Anti-gravity yoga

It may sound silly, but wrapping yourself in a hammock and performing yoga moves in the air is 10 times more taxing than when done on the floor, say the experts.

You’ll build serious strength and flexibility, fast. 

Price: £25 for 70 minutes. 
When and where: Weds, 8.30pm. London Dance Academy 
The Basement, 49-51 Central Street, EC1V 8AB. 
thelondondanceacademy.com

 

A-grow-bics 

The thought of combining medieval stretching racks with aerobics terrifies us slightly, but this bonkers workout promises to not only get you fit, but it’ll add inches as well.

Trainer Pierre Pozzuto has been through the process himself and insists he grew from 5’7” to 5’9”.

He’s so convinced it works that he’ll give you your money back if it doesn’t. Expect lots of hanging around – talk about a workout with a headrush. 

Price: £200 for a six-week course.
When and where: Times vary. Gymbox
20 Farringdon Road, EC1M 3AP. 
gymbox.co.uk

 

Photos: Nike; Thinkstock