Are you full of excuses this holiday season?
This is the time of year for celebration, family, good food, reflection and so on. We can see the signs of the season all around us in Middle Georgia as folks prepare for Christmas and other holidays that occur during this time of the year.
'Tis the season also for a certain "E" word that too often holds us back from exercising and eating healthily during this season. What is that word? Excuses.
The month-and-a-half time period that ranges from just before Thanksgiving to New Year's Day is prime time for excuses that put our health on the backburner. Have you heard (or admittedly used) any of the following excuses during the holiday season?
"It's too cold to exercise."
"I'm too busy buying gifts."
"No way I'm giving up momma's sweet potato pie!"
"I'm gonna get right to it on New Year's Day!"
With all of those excuses aside, here's the truth. It is always the right time to pay attention to your health by getting exercise and eating correctly, even during the holiday season. No excuse is good enough.
To add, it is still entirely possible to enjoy the holiday without "letting it all hang out," as the song goes. I'll explain by talking a little more about the excuses I listed earlier.
"It's too cold to exercise": No doubt, it can be difficult to get out there and exercise during the winter season with the wind and cold, but it really isn't that bad. The key is to dress in layers when you go out. What you will find is that you will eventually become warm, after which time you can shed layers of clothing to get more comfortable.
Also, you don't have to exercise outside. You could always visit a gym or do something in the comfort of your home, like calisthenics or a workout DVD.
"I'm too busy buying gifts": In the same manner that you carve out the time to purchase gifts for your loved ones, you can also carve out time to do a little exercise. Every little bit counts.
For example, according to the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, running just 5 to 10 minutes a day can greatly reduce the risk of heart disease. Surely we all have at least 5 or 10 minutes to spare.
"No way I'm giving up momma's sweet potato pie": Don't worry, I'm not suggesting that you push mom's pie to the side this season; that's not necessary. However, what is necessary is that you control yourself.
There's nothing wrong with having a slice or two of Christmas dessert, but a good strategy to use is to fill up on the veggies before you eat dessert. That way, you've ensured that you get good nutrition in, and you also ensure that you don't overindulge.
"I'm gonna get right to it on New Year's Day": We're all familiar with good ole' New Year's resolutions. Resolutions to live healthier or to lose weight are perhaps the most common type of resolutions that folks make. The sad fact is, the overwhelming majority of resolutions are not kept.
According to a University of Scranton study, it's estimated that only 8 percent of people keep their New Year's resolutions. My point? Instead of waiting to make a healthy living resolution on Jan. 1, if you're really serious, start taking care of yourself right now. If you do, it's much more likely that you'll continue into the new year.
Don't fall victim to holiday excuses this season. It is entirely possible to enjoy the season's treats while simultaneously prioritizing your health.
Peach County resident Shawn McClendon is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and owner of the health/fitness blog www.YourHealthAt TheCrossroads.com. Contact him at shawn@yourhealthatthecrossroads.com.
This story was originally published December 21, 2015 at 10:31 PM with the headline "Are you full of excuses this holiday season? ."