by Shannon on December 6, 2010
I have the good fortune of being quoted in the “Better Health” section of the December 2010 issue of Better Homes and Gardens:
“I used to handle the holiday stress by indulging in comfort foods. It’s hard not to when you’re surrounded by reindeer cookies and chocolate Santas. I always figured, Whatever. I’ll get back on track in January. Except I never did, and I ended up putting on more weight every year. I finally realized that healthy living is an everyday deal. This year when stress hits, I’ll be unwinding with a movie, good book, or manicure.“
One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to learn was how to deal with stress—holiday and other—in positive ways. Most of most of my life, when I was under pressure, feeling overwhelmed, or had too much to do and do little time to do it in, I soothed frazzled nerves with food. Stressful times often found me sitting at the kitchen table bingeing on my favorite comfort foods—usually a combination of sugar, flour and salt—while engrossed in a book or magazine. Eating while reading was my favorite escape.
Now that I’ve embraced a healthy lifestyle, I’ve had to learn to de-stress in ways that don’t involve self-destructive eating. Still a voracious reader, I’ve found that diving into a good book while drinking warm tea or coffee is immensely satisfying. Checking out via a matinee is another favorite, as is taking a nap on a Saturday afternoon.
Sipping warm tea, coffee, or broth is a healthy way to soothe seasonal stress.
What are your calorie-free holiday survival tips? Post a comment or send an email to [email protected]
Let’s make it to the New Year, happy, healthy, and even more importantly—sane!
by Shannon on May 25, 2010
The vast amount of people go on vacation to escape the stresses and strains of everyday life and just enjoy themselves for a little while. This often means no dieting, no exercise and looking in the mirror only to check tan lines.
However, an increasing amount of people are concerned with keeping their body in shape and their fitness levels up when on vacation, so here are some tips on how to do it without compromising on relaxation.
You'll enjoy paradise even more when you're fit and healthy.
- Pool. By far the most simple way to get some exercise on vacation is to get in the pool. Whether you’re on luxury cruises or beach breaks, there will always be a pool available to do a few laps in. It won’t be like your being forced either as the cool water is often a welcome break to the sun beating down. Try setting a target number of lengths to build up to by the end of your holiday and you’ll not only stay fit, but also feel like you’ve achieved something on your break.
- Cruise Ship. If a cruise ship is limited in its provision of activities and exercise facilities, active people can often become frustrated and claustrophobic. Ships usually have plenty of gym space and swimming pools to use and plenty of other activity choices. However, if you are limited, you should make the most of the time spent on land at the ports. Walking is a great way to stay in shape so resist the urge to use taxis to get around.
- Beach Running. Running is as much a therapeutic activity as it is a form of fitness training and beach running is like the standard kind but harder. Because sand is not a solid surface (especially when dry), your muscles need to work harder to stabilize the body. To ensure you path is most clear and you don’t overheat when running, it’s advisable to go before sunrise or alternatively at the end of the day when its cool and quiet.
With some planning and determination, you can indeed have a relaxing, healthy vacation.
