By Dr. Levi Harrison
Your holiday tips:
1. Continue to exercise during the holidays. In between shopping blitzes, be sure to prioritize a daily 20-30 min. cardio cross-training routine.
Incorporate exercise while shopping. Take the stairs at the mall and park further away from the entrance in a well travelled and properly illuminated safe parking area. Bring your comfortable walking shoes and take the stairs at work. Consider walking for part of your lunch hour. Get in your 10,000-12,000 steps per day!
2. Eat a healthy meal before going to a holiday party and politely let the host/ hostess of the party know that you are happy to come and converse and socialize but you will not be eating due to your personal health goals. Most hosts will be supportive of your honesty and will enjoy having your effervescent personality present. (Be sure to drink your 8-10 cups of water during the day also.)
3. Minimize alcohol consumption during these festive holidays. Consider having one drink at every other party. Alcohol dehydrates the body and has “No Great Nutritional Value”. So, if you go to holiday parties on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and have a drink on Friday then your next drink will be on Sunday. Consider wine as a choice versus a hard liquor ( like vodka, etc.). Be sure to “nurse” your drink for the night! Sip your drink and be sure to have a designated driver.
These tips are designed to give you a “well-being structure” for the holidays but not a “strict format ” for living. Enjoy the season!
Let Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanza be a time of Joyous Exercise! Celebrate being healthy. Keep on exercising….Exercise is Life!