(Editor’s Note. All of us worry about putting on pounds during the time from Thanksgiving through the New Year’s celebrations. Here is a piece that first appeared on a blog for a West Texas paper and contains some useful insights for the holiday season).
This year looks to be coming to an end and with that comes the favorite time of the year, the holidays. Although the holidays may bring great times to spend with family and friends, it also brings some bad health choices. But being healthy this holiday season is easier than you think. Along with watching what you eat, you can get active and plan a healthier end to this year.
One of my favorite ways to get active during busy times like the holidays is participating in runs. These events are not only a great way to get rid of the guilt of having that extra slice of pie, but they’re another great way to get friends and family together and an amazing way to reduce the overall holiday stress. They’re also anywhere you will be this holiday, and very easy to find.
In Midland, we have runs like the Jingle Bell Run that is a great approach to exercising this Christmas. This will start at 9 a.m. Dec. 3 at Illinois Avenue and Loraine Street. I also enjoy doing runs like the Turkey Trots that take place Thanksgiving morning. These runs give you and your metabolism a kick start for all the parties you will be visiting that day. To find runs like these and many more this holiday season, you can visit pbrunningclub.com.
Being healthy probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think about the holidays. And though you most likely won’t be completely healthy this year, there are ways to be healthier than in years past. One of the biggest mistakes I and many others have made is going to a party on an empty stomach. Although it seems like a great plan to prepare for a large calorie intake, when you arrive on an empty stomach you can make some really bad decisions in the foods you choose. So before heading off to the party, have a small snack that will keep you from overloading your plate.
When you do get to the party, you should survey the buffet in order to create a balanced plate. Then when you get your plate you should savor the food you have. It takes 20 minutes in order for your brain to signal your stomach that you’re full, so take your time eating. You can enjoy the food you have and talk in between bites to family members and friends.
But remember to be realistic when it comes to this holiday. It probably wouldn’t be realistic to think you’ll be losing weight during Thanksgiving weekend, so instead make a goal to maintain your current weight.
This holiday season doesn’t have to be a fear for those trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Although Thanksgiving and Christmas isn’t going to be your healthiest time of the year, there are little things you can do to stay on track. By being aware of what you’re eating, putting exercise into your schedule and planning for a healthy end to the year, you will be able to rid yourself of that post-holiday guilt.
Lindsay Bell writes for the Midland Star-Telegram. Anyone wanting to read more on this and other topics should go to: Stay healthy this holiday season with exercise, smart food choices. Under Creative Commons License: Attribution The content in this article was created by Ms. Bell and is used here with attribution to her per terms found on the link to Creative Commons. Use of the article on this blog does not imply any kind of approval or support for The Sport Digest blog by Ms. Bell or the Midland newspaper.
It
can be empowering to know that you are in control of your own destiny;
it can also feel overwhelming if you don’t have the information to make
the right decisions. The Fat Boys? Not good decision makers. Making the
best food choices on a daily basis will have both immediate and
long-term effects on your body. Select healthy, nutritious foods and
your meals will not only satisfy your hunger, they’ll improve your mood
and give you more energy; they’ll also set you up for long-term wellness
— preventing and, in some cases, reversing such illnesses and
conditions as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and obesity.
What makes a choice “smart,” particularly when it comes to food? One
that is heavy on beneficial, body-fueling nutrients and light on the
ones that pack on weight and increase health risks. In addition to
showing you what foods make good choices on a regular basis, we’ll help
you understand the thought process that goes into making repeated good
decisions, as well as show how those choices benefit your body on a
food-by-food basis.
RGDS
af 1
It
can be empowering to know that you are in control of your own destiny;
it can also feel overwhelming if you don’t have the information to make
the right decisions. The Fat Boys? Not good decision makers. Making the
best food choices on a daily basis will have both immediate and
long-term effects on your body. Select healthy, nutritious foods and
your meals will not only satisfy your hunger, they’ll improve your mood
and give you more energy; they’ll also set you up for long-term wellness
— preventing and, in some cases, reversing such illnesses and
conditions as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and obesity.
What makes a choice “smart,” particularly when it comes to food? One
that is heavy on beneficial, body-fueling nutrients and light on the
ones that pack on weight and increase health risks. In addition to
showing you what foods make good choices on a regular basis, we’ll help
you understand the thought process that goes into making repeated good
decisions, as well as show how those choices benefit your body on a
food-by-food basis.
RGDS
af 1