It’s almost time for the silly season, but before that it seems to be the slump season where everybody is tired from a long year. Every year seems to get longer and more stressful and we are more exhausted with each passing day. Counting down the days until the holidays (unless you have kids to entertain) becomes the only thing to look forward to and exercise time is decreased with the social commitments of the season. The irony is that exercising regularly during the slump season will help fight exhaustion and keep up positive and fit. When we blink again, it will be the silly season.
We all want to enjoy the holidays, but do not want to bring home any extra “baggage” around our bodies. Nobody wants to make New Year’s resolutions to lose the festive weight that could be avoided with sensible eating and drinking habits and an active lifestyle. Overindulgence is the biggest sin of the festive season, but you do not have to turn into Scrooge to enjoy yourself.
Follow a few guidelines to a healthier holiday:
¨ Try everything once. No second helpings, unless it is salad.
¨ Monitor alcohol intake – aside from roadblocks and being arrested for drunken driving, alcohol is fattening and leads to late night snacking. A balanced diet is not a drink in one hand and cocktail snacks in the other hand.
¨ Accept Christmas gifts of chocolates gratefully and give them away for Easter – just do not these gifts to the giver. Make it clear to friends and family that you would prefer gifts of shower gel, candles, socks, books or anything else that will not add kilojoules.
¨ Do not indulge in late night snacks. Try to eat your main meal when it is still light outside.
¨ Take long, brisk walks instead of driving to shops and other places that are within walking distance.
¨ Go sightseeing after a big meal instead of having a nap.
¨ Do stomach crunches while watching DVDs.
¨ Get the family and kids involved in a home exercise routine.
Avoid the slump and be filled with the joy of the festive season instead of being filled with trifle, cocktails and chocolate!
Merry Christmas!
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