Here we are, embarking on the holiday season, again. As you plan
for the family gatherings and parties, you may also be starting
to stress about what you're going to do about the temptation to
eat all those holiday goodies.
But there is something else at play here: For many people, the
holiday season is a stressful and depressing time. Stressful
because they're lonely, stressful because they may start to
think about what they are not accomplishing in their lives.
Stressful because they have a growing to-do list. That stress
can lead to holiday depression. Combine increased depression
with increased occasions to overeat and the result is the
average weight gain of 5-7 pounds we all hear about each year.
This would be the usual article on avoiding that holiday weight
gain if I just gave you tips. However, if you do suffer from
overeating and depression and stress during the holidays, I'd
like to pose a new proposition to you in this article. I
challenge you to not worry about your eating; you're going to
eat what you want, anyway. My challenge to you is to get some
form of exercise in every single day between now and January 1.
You've just read the above challenge and are now laughing. But,
can you seriously think of a reason why not?? Oh yea, everyone
can give thousands of 'excuses' why they can't fit exercise into
their lives. I hear it all the time! First of all, if you are
over 40 and have any health conditions, first consult with your
physician. Second of all, put on your walking shoes and start
walking. You can start at the mall! Wow; exercise and shopping
at the same time! Imagine if you started now, before the holiday
rush! Just 10 minutes per day for people who have not been doing
any exercise can be a huge improvement. Or, if you have a
membership to a health club and they've been just collecting
your payments, and the staff doesn't know you, brush that
membership off and check out that gym! If you work, I bet you
anything they are open before your work hours. If you have kids
and a spouse, let the spouse take care of the kids while you run
to the gym. Right now, just 10-20 minutes on a treadmill or
stationary bike will be enough. Break a sweat. If you have
exercise equipment at home, time to put away all the clothes and
boxes that it's hidden under and see if it still works.
As you get into your second week, I then challenge you to pick
it up a notch. If you were walking 10 minutes each day, I
challenge you to add a second 10 minutes to your exercise. Yes,
now we can actually call it exercise. Why not? Imagine what
you're going to look like and feel like by the New Year! Let
that motivate you. Every single person can find 10 minutes here
and there in their day. Do you sit down and watch television at
any time? What about the time you spend on the computer? If
you're reading this article, I bet you've spend spent more than
10 minutes at the computer, total, already. Turn off your
computer, get up, put those shoes on, and walk outside. Take
your watch. Walk away five minutes, then turn around and walk
back for 5 minutes. Or, even easier if you have a treadmill
sitting next to your TV. There is no greater escape than turning
a fun, mindless TV show on and walking for 10-30 minutes. My
favorite shows are the travel shows. I spend 30 minutes on my
elliptical trainer while watching the secret get-aways in Hawaii
for very little expense.
If you read this article in the middle of November, and December
is almost upon you, you have now been exercising for at least
three weeks. The parties have heated up and the stress of what
the families are going to do or where you're going to hold the
business party is starting to weigh on your mind. Go sweat to
relieve some of that stress. Maybe you're really starting to
feel alone and lonely. Take a walk and enjoy the sights and
sounds around you. Get a walkman or iPod and listen to some
soothing music while doing your exercise. But sweat out that
stress and depression. Research does show that it really helps
by increasing endorphins in the brain.
Then the middle of December is upon you. The parties are really
hot and heavy now. You look at that yummy piece of chocolate
brownie, but because you have been doing SO well with your
exercise, remarkably that brownie just doesn't seem worth it,
now! There you go; the ultimate reward. Health. Health, Wealth
and Wisdom, actually. Congratulations on the new you, and what a
way to start the New Year!
About the author:
Marjorie Geiser is a nutritionist, registered dietitian,
certified personal trainer and life coach. Marjorie has been the
owner of a successful small business, MEG Fitness, since 1996,
and now helps other health professionals start up their own
private practice. To learn more about the coaching services
Margie offers, go to her website www.marjoriegeiser.com or email
her at margie@megfit.com.
