Double Whammy?

This time of year (October through January) the majority of people add on 3-5 pounds. The sad part is that the majority of those KEEP those 3-5 pounds. It is such a small increase it’s hardly noticed until a few years go by and we have an extra 30-50 pounds hanging on.

Where do these extra pounds come from? Starting with Halloween candy, we add on Thanksgiving meal (which, let’s face it, lasts the whole week!), then from Thanksgiving to Christmas we have candy and delicious goodies in abundance. By the New Year we are just in the habit of eating more!

Also, this time of year we don’t exercise as much as we do when the weather is warmer. So we are moving less. Add that to the extra sweets and food and our bodies take a hit. Our circulation is decreased without exercise and our immune systems are compromised with all that sugar and bad food. The Double Whammy!

Every counter or desk has a bowl of candy...one piece won’t hurt...no, but 5 trips a day to that same bowl will! Replace that bowl of candy with a bouquet of flowers (same price!). You will get satisfaction from looking at the beautiful flowers and feel you are contributing to the holiday feeling. Can’t fit in the exercise? Park at the back of any parking lot and “walk” to the store. Take the long way around the office - avoiding those desks with candy - to get in a few more steps each day. Take the stairs instead of the elevator - sometimes it is even faster. Do squats or leg raises during TV commercials. Be creative, you’ll find a way to exercise.

You have to PLAN to not gain those extra pounds...you have to PLAN to exercise more. Let me know what strategies work for you during the holidays.