Dr. George L. Dixon - "Talking Fitness"

STAND UP TO CHEER UP

Happy Holidays! Well, maybe, usually, sometimes, often, and other modifiers are frequently used. Exercises and physical activity can stand you (no pun intended) in good stead during the weeks of unaccustomed increase in calories and decrease in activity

First of all, when you are visiting or being visited, keep up a daily physical activity, join in with your hosts or invite him/her to join you. The best of all for the usual great age spread is walking. You are often headed to a mall for shopping, so take advantage of the space and time to do extra walking, perhaps while you are shopping for each other, the other keeps moving. Even the bundling and blowing of outside walking is well worth the daily effort. The fresh air and sunshine will help to clear your heads so you all gain equanimity and thereby avoid possible unpleasant words during the stressful times of togetherness. Even small children love to go on a couple of short walks a day with grown-ups and it helps them to contain themselves in all the excitement.

If you are visiting in a strange city, especially in unaccustomed cold weather, keep your activity down to about half your usual. It will be enough! Malls are climatized and safer.

The edible temptations are all around! Take some of everything you like- but only once. Carry a tall glass with you and refill it with water, ice and lime, often. Don't bore your companions with your sacrifices to the gods of low fat, low sodium, low calories and high fiber. Keep your good sense of joy, wonder, kindness. Happy Holidays!!!

More help is available in "Exercise a la Carte", here, at your bookstore or call 800-624-4952.