Holiday Weight Gain - Or Not

Thanksgiving is almost here, signaling the start of the holiday season, and our yearly fear of holiday weight gain.  You can Google “holiday weight gain” and instantly be inundated by tips on how to avoid it.  Whether it’s a recipe for low-calorie gravy, a new way to make a “skinny” cocktail, or the reminder to take a walk after that big turkey dinner, the advice is already out there – I have nothing new to add.  So here’s a link to an article on the Cleveland Clinic website. 

I like this list because it offers solid strategies that should be incorporated into a healthy lifestyle anyway – get moving, add more fruits and veggies to your diet, don’t let people pressure you into eating when you’re already full, allow yourself a small treat instead of feeling deprived, take a healthy dish to a potluck, avoid temptations throughout the day, especially if you know you’ll be socializing later that evening, and make healthier food choices during holiday events.  

I would add one more:  What stories do you tell yourself?  

I don’t need to exercise now – I’ll “catch up” in the new year.

It’s harder to lose the weight than it is to just keep it off in the first place.  Let your workouts carry you into the new year so you have a workout routine and mindset in place rather than making that resolution and never following through.  Exercise has many benefits beyond weight loss.

It’s useless to work out over the holidays.  I have no time to fit in a long workout, so why try? (Or, how can I work out if I’m traveling?)

You don’t need a long workout.  You can find the time – or more likely, claim the time for yourself – to take a 15-minute walk.  There are plenty of intense full-body exercise routines that just take 30 minutes and don't require any equipment.  (Here are some ideas from me.  And here are some more.)   Remember that starting is half the battle.  Besides, exercise helps reduce the stress we all feel during the period of holiday busy-ness.  

Who cares?  Everyone gains weight over the holiday.  I can’t expect to be any different.

Really?  I suggest you raise your expectations.  Find a Jazzercise center, hit a YMCA for group fitness classes, get a temporary gym membership, hire a personal trainer for a few sessions (some will actually come to your house), check out an indoor pool in your area, grab that friend or relative who manages to escape the holidays each year without packing on pounds and find out what she’s doing.  It’s a good bet there are plenty of people around you who don’t gain weight – you can be one of them.  

 Let this post challenge you to have a healthier holiday this year.  Good luck!

Movement Challenge Check-In

 

I’m still doing yoga, and although I did miss one day completely, I’ve been otherwise diligent about doing a full routine nearly every day, or at least a couple of poses for relaxation at bedtime (like reclining bound angle pose – the second my legs fall open, I feel all the tension drain out of my body).      

Like any good practice of inquiry, it’s brought up lots of useful observations:

My muscles are pretty tight - this tightness hit me earlier than ever before during November’s half-marathon.  I want to increase my baseline running fitness and flexibility so this distance starts to feel easier.   

I hold my jaws tightly and clench my teeth nearly all of the time, and I frequently find that my fists are clenched, even when I’m trying to fall asleep.  It’s difficult for me to relax my neck when particular poses call for it.   

I prefer starting the day with yoga, and want to play with ways to gently wake up my body before beginning a routine. 

A relaxing and rejuvenating series is great after a busy day or a day spent sitting in front of the computer; a more active set like sun salutations helps burn off excess stress-energy.  It’s always worthwhile for me to practice after work – especially when my mind is telling me I don’t have the time.

I want to learn more about the philosophy behind yoga and the poses – right now it’s primarily a physical practice for me, but I know there are deeper benefits.  I’d like to try a live class.

Sometimes I feel like I hit a pose just perfectly, and I have no way to describe how that feels, other than right.