The holidays are a time of year when you really want to feel your best. We all look forward to good food, great times and lots of fun with family and friends. But the holidays are also a minefield of health woes, from cold and flu bugs to party hangovers, increase stress and weight gain. Pecan pie! Honey-glazed ham! Candy cane truffles! Holiday food can inspire anxiety or ecstasy…..or both….. depending on your mind-set.
- The good news: The average weight gain for the holiday season is just one pound.
- Now the bad: While that might not sound like much, research shows we don’t lose it, and that one pound adds up year after year.
Bummer!
But anticipating backward steps during the holidays can make all the difference in the world. Develop an action plan and commit to resuming your regular routine as quickly as possible after the holidays.
- Stay physically active during the holidays. This will result in less weight gain over the years. People who reported the most physical activity through the holiday season showed the least weight gain. Some even managed to lose weight. Staying physically active during the holidays is the clearest step you can take to benefit your health. You’ll also feel good and your body and brain will function better.
- Maintain a strong immune system. Colds and the flu run rampant this time of year, so while you’re enjoying all that the season has to offer, make sure you’re not sidelined with a nasty bug. Washing your hands regularly and urging others to do the same will help prevent illness. Use warm soap and water whenever possible. Before you settle in for the flight (or train or bus ride), run disinfecting wipes over the arm rests, the tray table and latch, the air vent, and your seatbelt buckle, and let them air-dry. I take Nutrilite® Vitamin C♦ on a regular basis and before flying, I add Nutrilite® Echinacea♦ and Nutrilite® ClearGuard♦.
- Know your holiday stress points. Do certain family members put you on edge? Do you take on too much and then find you don’t have time for it all? Start by asking yourself what makes you feel most pressured or irritable, and then find ways to help make this stress more manageable. If you have to see a difficult relative, decide in advance how you will respond. This will help you get through a potentially difficult time.
- Stay Hydrated. Staying well-hydrated keeps your mucous membranes moist so they can better keep bugs out of your systems. Low humidity at high altitudes makes plane cabin air dry and your airways more vulnerable to viruses and bacteria.
There will always be times when it’s not possible to follow your regular routine. Feeling guilty after eating foods you don’t usually allow yourself to eat can breed more unhealthy behaviors. So abandon those negative voices in your head, give yourself permission to enjoy the indulgence guilt-free. You don’t need superhuman willpower, you just need strategies that can pull you back on track as soon as possible.
“Time and health are two precious assets that we don’t recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted.” – Denis Waitley
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To Your Success,
Althea
Althea A. McLeish Wilson, RN, MSN
Promoting inner health & outer beauty!
Helping you thrive, not just survive!!
PS. Inner Health & Outer Beauty Store: Health & Wellness with Althea♦
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