Healthier Holidays in 4 Simple Steps

by Brandon Jubar

God the Creator made everything in this universe. He made the land, the seas, the sky, and all living things... including you and me. When he made everything else, He said it was "good"; but after He made humans, He said it was "very good". With that in mind, it never ceases to amaze me that in the United States we do such a poor job of taking care of that which God said was "very good".

Every study out there that deals with the subject will show you that there is a higher rate of obesity amongst Americans than in any other country in the world. Generally speaking, we've let ourselves get fat and it's killing us. We are the stewards of God's creation and we've forgotten that we need to take care of ourselves so that we're able to take care of everything else!

As if that's not bad enough, almost everyone I know actually plans on gaining weight over the holidays! "My New Year's resolution is going to be to lose weight," they tell me. Or they say, "I'm going on a diet starting on January 2nd because I'm going to eat and drink all I want on the 1st while the Bowl Games are on!"

Is it inevitable that we'll gain at least a few pounds between Christmas and the New Year? Of course not! And people who think that way are just trying to justify the fact that they are planning to over-indulge for a couple of weeks. I'm sorry, but I don't think that's the proper way to treat these temples that God has placed in our care.

If you agree with me but aren't sure how to face the coming barrage of rich foods, scrumptious goodies, and plentiful alcohol, then let me share a few steps you can take that may help you get through the next few weeks without packing on any extra pounds.

Step #1: Drink lots of water and avoid calorie-containing beverages. If you must drink alcohol, mix it with non-calorie beverages (e.g. diet soda, diet tonic water, etc.). Generally speaking, an ounce of 80 proof alcohol has about 100 calories. But that's not the worst of it. Keep in mind that alcohol can dehydrate you very quickly, and water is needed for almost every function in your body. You should also know that alcohol stops your body from burning any fat until it's all out of your system. Wow! Talk about a double-whammy!

Step #2: Think like a cow and hit the veggie tray when you're standing around "grazing". The cookie tray will cause you nothing but grief. If you crave something sweet, grab some fruit (but you should probably avoid the sugar-packed fruit dips). You can also grab some cheese, which is a decent source of protein, but most of it is high in milk fat so you should try not to take too much. Again, your best bet is to fill-up on fresh, raw vegetables. In fact, I challenge you to eat too many of them.

Step #3: When faced with a buffet, take a small sampling of things you like. And whatever you do, don't go back for "seconds" (and definitely not "thirds" or "fourths"). If you take small samplings (not servings), and eat slowly so that you are able to truly taste everything, your body will have a chance to savor the flavors and feel full and satisfied before you stuff too much into your tummy!

Step #4: Don't skip workouts! Even if you're traveling, you can find time to exercise. Spend a few dollars on an inexpensive resistance band exercise kit, or use bodyweight exercises like squats, push-ups, and planks. By exercising for even 20 or 30 minutes a day, you can burn lots of calories around the clock (provided that your intensity level is high enough). Don't worry about long, boring, low-intensity cardio during the holidays. Stick to high-intensity resistance workouts and you'll go much further towards keeping the pounds off, even if you indulge a bit too much at the buffet!

And there you have it -- a set of guidelines that aren't impossible to follow. Throw in a little daily prayer about health and fitness to keep you in the right frame of mind and you should be able to start the New Year in as good or better shape then you are today. I'm sure the Spirit will be with you if you really try to follow this advice and enjoy healthier holidays in 4 simple steps.

Peace,
~Brandon