The Holiday Exercise Challenge

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!