Are you too busy with holiday cooking and shopping to find time to workout?
Well, you don’t have to make time for the gym to burn off those extra calories. A fun way to get some exercise in and still keep up with your holiday preparations, is to dance around the house to your favorite Christmas music.
Sound silly?
Yes. But it is fun, and it does work.
Listening to Christmas music is already a tradition for many families. Just make dancing to the music part of your tradition and have a healthy holiday.
Did you ever want to give yoga a try, but it seemed like too much of a commitment? Well if you’re like me, and you’re a bit of an emotional eater, learning a couple of yoga poses may be just what you need. Yoga can help you focus on what your body needs, reduce stress, and curb your emotional eating.
Here is a pose you can do in less than two minutes, it’s called Downward Facing Dog. Give it a try for a couple of days and see if you notice a difference.
I think my favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner are the leftovers. But if you’re watching your weight or trying to eat healthy, leftovers can be your enemy. Here are some healthy recipes for your Thanksgiving leftovers…
Dr. Oz on Oprah: Being Grateful Is Good For Your Health
Dr. Oz was on Oprah the other day, talking about longevity and good health. I thought it was interesting that “being grateful” is actually an important aspect to good health.
Dr. Oz says that showing gratitude is another reason why people in these communities have such long and healthy lives. “If you’re grateful for the things that have always happened to you, sometimes they’re not always good, but you find lessons and meaning in them,” Dr. Oz says. “Hope isn’t about a good outcome. It’s about making sense of stuff. And these people have made sense of their life, and they do it all the time.”
Research shows that simply focusing each day on three to five things for which you can be grateful will increase your health and happiness. Everyone has something to be grateful for. Just being alive for one. Having a job, or enough money for lunch, or a roof over your head are all things we can be grateful that we have, but we often take these for granted.
For an even stronger dose of health and happiness, express your gratitude to someone else. Holding the thought of gratitude for a good friend will benefit you. Expressing that gratitude to the friend will benefit both of you.
Thanksgiving is a wonderful opportunity to recognize all the little things in our lives that we can be grateful for. And, if it’s people in your life that you are most grateful for…Tell them.
Will You Be Having A Glass of Wine with Thanksgiving Dinner?
Can red wine contribute to good heart health?
The answer appears to be – yes. And it’s not just red wine, white is good too.
In moderation, wine seems to increase our good cholesterol (HDL) while decreasing bad cholesterol (LDL). And red wine also contains antioxidants.
If you have asthma or are prone to migraines, it’s best to avoid red wine.
So, a glass of wine with dinner can be good for your heart health. However, the benefits of wine do not outweigh the risks associated with drinking too much alcohol. But, how much is too much? Here is the recommended amount for health benefits…
Men: No more than two drinks per day.
Women: No more than one drink per day.
One drink is defined as a 5-ounce glass of red or white wine, 12 ounces of regular beer (1 bottle) or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.
If you’re like me, and drinking even one glass of wine doesn’t really appeal to you. Try some pomegranate, grape, or cranberry juice in a fancy wine glass.
Will you be having a glass of wine with Thanksgiving dinner?
It’s getting cold outside, but you should still try to get out in the sun for a few minutes each day. And taking a walk outside to burn off some of your excess holiday calories is a great way to do that. It’s good for your health too.
Did you ever wonder why the sun makes you feel good?
It’s because the sun actually triggers an increase in the “feel-good” chemicals in your brain (serotonin). Serotonin helps control sleep patterns, lift your mood, and even increase your sex drive.
Sunlight also helps the body to make its own vitamin D, which is crucial to good health. Vitamin D not only makes strong bones and healthy teeth, but it also keeps the immune system working, increases energy, and sharpens you mentally.
So…Don’t let the cold weather keep you inside this holiday season.
For many of us, Thanksgiving can begin a downward spiral of unhealthy eating and weight gain. The best way to avoid this, is to start the holiday season with healthy eating habits.
Here are some healthy eating tips for the holiday season…
Avoid overeating by not going to holiday dinners or parties hungry.
Drink plenty of water (with lemon) before and during holiday parties.
Did you know that the scent of peppermint can curb your appetite and relieve a headache? It’s true.
Curb Appetite: In a study from Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia – People who regularly smelled peppermint ate 23 percent fewer calories per week.
Relieve Headache: In this double-blind study, researchers found that an ethanol solution containing 10% peppermint oil was as effective in relieving headache pain as 1,000 mg of acetaminophen. In another study, 32 people with headaches massaged peppermint oil on their temples. The results showed that the peppermint oil significantly relieved their pain.
I love all things peppermint. Here are some ways you can introduce the scent of peppermint into your daily life…
Peppermint Oil – Keep some in your purse or at your desk and smell it periodically throughout the day.
Enjoy a cup of Peppermint Tea.
Carry some peppermint gum or mints with you.
Grow your own peppermint.
Have a candy cane.
Bath & Body Works even has a Twisted Peppermint Christmas edition. You can get lotion, shower gel, body spray, hand soap, and hand sanitizer.
Another way to curb your appetite with peppermint is to brush your teeth. I know that sounds strange, but if you are in between meals and feeling hungry, try brushing your teeth. It really works.
Get Some Exercise In While You Do Your Holiday and Black Friday Shopping
Do you find yourself getting less exercise during the cooler months? If so, you may also notice you gain a few extra pounds when it’s cold outside. But there is something you can do, and it’s something you don’t even need to make any extra time for.
Here’s what you do…
When you’re doing your holiday shopping this season; instead of driving around busy parking lots looking for the closest spot to park your car, park farther away and take a little walk. Think of how many extra calories you can burn shopping for your Thanksgiving groceries this year. Do the same when you go shopping on Black Friday, and every time you shop this holiday season.
If you are really feeling motivated…Take the steps instead of the elevator, and get in the habit of never wasting your time looking for the closest parking spot anymore.
