Graehm Gray-Be Fit, Get Fit or It Won’t Fit!
It’s that time of year again. Gifting, re-gifting, wrapping and shopping. That’s combined with eating, parties, candy and leftovers. Oh, lets not forget that extra bit of weight we all seem to pack on over these holidays which comes from the extra calories and lack of exercise. Does this sound like our kids? Can we all say-Childhood Obesity!!!It’s contagious – all that candy and cake and food, we can’t seem to resist the temptation. For those Nerdel News readers living in the wintery north, the recent blasts of severe weather certainly limit your outdoor activities. So bring it on inside my friend! And for my loyal readers in the good weather states, what’s your excuse? Yes, I would agree that walking in the mall is exercise. It counts on a pedometer toward your goal of 10,000 steps a day (which is approximately equal to between 3 to 5 miles). But when you are eating your way through these holidays, it will take extra calorie burning, that’s right that means exercise, to maintain your present weight. During these several weeks, our calorie intake may go up an extra 1000 calories a day, maybe more. Let’s not forget that a pound of fat is equal to 3500 calories. So it’s easy to see that an extra thousand calories a day that’s not burned off will cause you to gain at least one pound every three and a half days. Wow! Okay, are you happy now? I said it. Just call me “da Scrooge-man”. Now please, I am not telling you to avoid the parties or not to eat and celebrate. These are the holidays. The kids are home from school, it’s a time for families and friends to get together. Some of us travel. There is skiing and parades, the Bowl games, the sports on television, the shopping deals – winter is a special time of the year. But that shouldn’t prevent you from getting up from that easy chair and moving. That’s right, get up and move. Go to the gym. Exercise in your house. Do something, do anything! Don’t be a couch potato. Get up! Get going! So now we know that the reason our pants are tighter in January is because we ate too much food and exercised less from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day! We are facing the prospect of another year with an extra 5-10 pounds packed on. We make another New Year’s resolution to lose weight. How much longer can we do this? We have added to our health risk, feel uncomfortable in our clothes, ashamed to be seen in a bathing suit, and prepared to again go through the list of diets that maybe will work by the summer, so that we can be seen at the beach. What are we doing to ourselves? Does this seem like the never ending cycle to you? This year is going to be different. I want you to think to yourself, when you are eating, “Am I really hungry right now”, “Do I really need to eat now?” “Do I really need to eat this? Do I want to gain weight? Do I need to weigh more? Did I exercise today? Can I just take a taste and leave the rest? Is this food worth eating knowing that I will gain weight as a result of eating it? Yes, I know my friends that there are those of us that just love food, all types, all flavors. There is nothing wrong with loving food. Food is good for us. We need food. We need the right foods and the right amounts. We just don’t need to stuff ourselves. What’s up with the Gi-normous portions anyway? Our stomach is the size of our fist and our plate of food is the size of our waist line. So, back off!! That’s right. Back away from the dinner table and keep your hands in plain sight. Do you hear me? No sneaking. So let’s you and I come up with a plan for this holiday season. 1. Remember to get some type of exercise every day. Even 10 minutes a day is good for you, of course with a goal of doing more. 2. Don’t stuff yourself at the buffet table. Take small amounts on your plate and get up often to move around. Some food experts will tell you that sitting for a long period of time makes you eat more. 3. Be careful! Don’t forget that candy, ice cream, cakes and soda are not the primary food groups. – So don’t overdo on any one item. And eat plenty of fresh fruits and veggies. Go easy on the starches! 4. Drink plenty of water over the holidays – It’s the best rehydration method and has zero calories. A glass of water before dinner has been reported to decrease the amount of calories you will eat. 5. Send Nerdel e-cards (on this site). They are free (zero calories) and very cute! There’s the plan-now put it into play. Be fit, get fit, or it won’t fit!!!
By Graehm Gray
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year
From All of Us Here at The Nerdel News
Posted in: Editor's Page
