Surviving the Holidays
During the hectic holiday season, engaging in regular exercise and nourishing your body with the proper foods can become a daunting task. Your body’s output depends on what is put into it. Here are some ways to approach the holiday season with increasing confidence that you are fueling your body with only top-notch fuel and keeping yourself moving.
• First and foremost get organized. Have a plan and write it down. Just like you have a calendar at work, have a calendar for your food intake and workout routine. The key here is to be flexible though. If there is an office party, have a stricter breakfast so you can splurge more at lunch. Or fit in a longer exercise at the gym to compensate for any over indulgence.
• During hectic times, be creative with your exercise. Instead of running your same old route, check out the local trails or your local running club. This is a good change of pace that may be just what your exercise routine needs. Also during this time of year there are a lot of holiday runs. Sign up for a local 5k or 10k while supporting a good cause. (Log on to raceplace.com or runnersworld.com to find a race near you). If weather does not permit, don’t throw in the towel. Head to the gym to take a group class or if a gym membership is not in your cards find a stand alone exercise studio that offers pay as you go classes such as a Spinning or Pilates Studio.
• Keep up your intake of fruits and vegetables. With all the hustle and bustle and stress of the holiday season it is very easy to catch a cold and nobody wants a cold to drag them down during this time of year. By keeping up your intake of fruits and vegetables you will be filling your body with an abundance of disease fighting antioxidants. Research shows that antioxidants may slow or even prevent the development of cancer and may play a role in cardiovascular health, among other things. Some top-notch choices are blueberries, cranberries, artichokes, prunes, strawberries, apples, Pecans, Walnuts, Hazelnuts, pumpkin* and pomegranates. *The good news is that fresh and canned pumpkin is equally nutritious. One cup of canned pumpkin contains 310% of the recommended daily allowance for vitamin A.
• Wine, Beer or Liquor? Moderation is still the key, and many alcoholic drinks contain a lot of calories. So what is a serving size? One drink is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine and 1 ½ ounces of liquor. Wine has always gotten all the praise for its antioxidant content among other things, but now other drinks are in the mix. Research now shows that some beers and liquor contain antioxidants as well. A study showed that people who drank either lagers or dark beers absorbed the same amount of antioxidants as when they consumed red wine even though red wine contains more. It is thought that the body does not know what to do with the extra antioxidants. The ethanol found in alcohol also plays a role by raising good cholesterol (HDL) and prevents blood vessel damage and may lower blood pressure. As always choose your drinks wisely.
As you make your way through this holiday season, try to keep your stress level to a minimum by exercising and eating right. Remember to fuel your body with foods that will nourish your body and give you proper energy. And if you fall victim to certain cravings remember moderation is the key. Eat healthy and live well.
No comments yet.
