Holi-DAYS

The holidays are upon us.  Thanksgiving is just a few days away.  This is often the beginning of hibernation for too many of my patients.  However, I do not care for bears.  We humans have no physiologic need to store fat to make it through the long dark winter.  Remember, bears do this due to a lack of access to food during the winter.  We do not have this problem.  Now, we will, like hibernating bears, grind our metabolism down to a halt if we allow ourselves to slip into a pattern of inactivity, only getting up to forage in the refrigerator.

What are good ways of staying active in the winter time?  It will likely involve exercising indoors.  If you do not have your own treadmill, exercise bike or other equipment, consider joining a gym.  Many are relatively inexpensive.  The malls are open early for those who want to walk in them.  Put on a coat and take your walk.  Don't let the winter doldrums keep you from being active.

In regards to eating habits, this is the time of year I refer to as "the danger zone."  There will be plenty of opportunities to eat the wrong types of food.  You need to make up your mind now how you are going to respond when something really tempting crosses your path.  Many of my men patients will tell me, "if she wouldn't buy/make those cookies/cakes, I wouldn't eat them."  This is a weak excuse at best.  We must be firmly responsible for the decisions we make.  Make a resolution now and stick with it.  Don't wait until the first of the year and you've put on ten extra pounds.  Watch yourselves every day.  Get on the scale daily if you need to.  Be strong.

Lastly, I fully understand that during the holidays we are going to eat food that is not healthy.  There are three simple hints that can help keep things under control.  First, earn your calories.  Get up early on Thanksgiving and go for an extra long walk.  Play football with the kids (this may have other adverse health outcomes, though).  Go to the gym and stay longer.  If you are going to eat more, burn more.  Secondly, realize that there will be far more choices than normal.  It is all right to eat from all of them if the portions are much smaller than what you would normally take at a normal meal.  If there is something that isn't your favorite, skip it.  Don't dish it up just because it is the next item in the line.  Lastly, remember that these special days are just that..."days."  They are not holi-weeks or holi-months, they are holi-DAYS. Enjoy yourself.  Taste all the goodies.  Don't fret about feeling guilty all day but when the day is over it is OVER.  Get back on track the next day.