Holiday Fitness

For my first blog, I thought it might be useful to address the many ways in which people try to control holiday weight gain each year. If you read the gazillions of fitness authors out there they throw out advice such as serving low fat dinners at your holiday parties, being sure to eat before you go to a party and cutting out alcohol consumption. I ask you.....who wants to go to a party where all they serve is healthy food, have a person at their party who doesn't eat and party with people who will make you feel bad for having spiked egg nog.

So, that being said how do you handle the holidays? Those of us not obsessed with eating right and exercising will have to find time to do some necessary activities. You will always have to go shopping, as otherwise your family and friends won't like you anymore. Go for far away parking spaces and take stairs. Even if you find yourself weighed down with bags, these small activities will make a difference.

While you're food shopping, be sure to pick up healthy food snacks for your daily lifestyle. Fresh fruit and veggies, trail mixes, fat free yogurt etc. are some good examples.

I assume that you'll need to clean the house more than usual, so have at it! Really scrub and once you've carried that vaccuum up and down several flights of stairs, your quads will feel it.

Cut out sugar now. If you're a soda drinker or add sugar to your coffee or are a regular dessert eater.....cut those things out or down to a bare minimum. This way, your holiday treats won't come on top of what you do on a daily basis.

If you're a 5-6 day per week exerciser, you may only have time for 3 days. That's okay.....go for interval training and circuits and try to exercise at higher intensities. It's less comfortable, but you can get as much benefit if not more from exercising in this fashion. If you don't exercise at all, try to follow the above activity suggestions in terms of shopping and cleaning house. Or, if you have a dog that you walk maybe step up the pace or lengthen the walk.

Finally, realize that no one held a gun to your head and made you eat erratically and poorly. Take responsibility for your actions and move on. Get back on the horse or just get on the horse period. There will always be reasons why you shouldn't exercise or why you can't seem to eat properly. You were born with will power and intelligence....stop blaming the world for your short-comings and dive in!!

Happy Holidays!!!