Easy tips to stay healthy this holiday
Why is it that the busier our lives become, the less exercise we tend to get? This is especially true at Christmas – the busiest time of the year. With it, comes a flurry of activity, from trolling malls to clocking extra office hours, and hosting dinner parties to holiday baking. The time we normally dedicate to our exercise regimen is easily replaced by tasks on our expanding to-do list.
As the most wonderful time of the year, the last thing we want to experience is guilt over our lackluster fitness and expanding waistlines. The better tactic is to find creative ways to incorporate healthy eating and exercise into one’s hectic schedule, accept that this is the season for a little indulgence, and most of all – eliminate the guilt. (Isn’t that what New Year’s resolutions are for?)
We asked fitness and health expert, Brian Humphrey, co-owner of Momentum Fitness in Hamilton, to share some insights on how to keep fit through holidays. He understands the month of December is rife with temptations to eat more and exercise less. As a result, he recommends having a strategy to manage those temptations.
“Before going to a holiday function, make a commitment to yourself,” says Humphrey. “Whether it’s sticking to just one drink or making sure you have more natural foods on your plate than processed foods. The key is to make sure your good choices dominate the not-so-good ones.” And, if you slip up one night, don’t dwell on it. He reminds us that every day is a good day to start fresh.
If you’re finding it tough to fit in those weekly fitness classes, it’s important to look for opportunities throughout your day to move. Humphrey offers these ideas: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Take the stairs. We’ve all heard this many times, yet how often do we actually do it? Make the extra effort this season to forgo the elevator and seek the staircase. Once you reach the top, try going back down and repeating the steps for extra cardio work! Don’t waste time driving around for the perfect parking spot. In fact, take the furthest one away and enjoy a longer walk to the entrance. Walk the mall. Literally. Set a goal to walk several laps around the entire mall while you cross items off your gift list. Keep track of the total number of laps with your cell phone. Bundle up and get out. It’s tempting to want to huddle inside when it’s frightfully cold outside, but after dinner (and before dessert) is a great time to go for a family stroll. If you have kids, grab a flashlight for extra fun. Stay consistent. Try to maintain these extra fitness habits throughout the season.You’ll be happy that you did.