In the last two blogs I have given suggestions about how to make great food choices for the holiday party and event season. Another really important part of your eating healthy during the holiday is exercise. Many times the first thing that flies out the window when people get busy is exercise. This is a big no no. Exercise is an important part of the digestive process. It stimulates the digestive system to help release all of the foods that we have been eating at our holiday parties and holiday events.
Exercise also helps to release toxins through the sweating process, Exercise is especially important if you have been drinking or eating food that have additives and preservatives.
Exercise is also important in helping to balance your blood sugar levels. In the last couple of blogs we talked about how whole foods help to balance your blood sugar but exercise can do the same thing. Since we know food is fuel and that our muscles crave fuel during exercise so as you exercise the demand for fuel increases and your muscle will demand fuel and so it will take any excess sugar out of the blood. Our muscles also liberate stores of fuel by burning calories.
When we think about maintaining our weight during the holidays we want to burn the same amount of calories that we are eating each day. If you are eating more calories than you normally do, then you have to find a way to burn off more calories than you usually do to maintain the same weight. Exercise will give you the extra push to keep your calories balanced. If exercise is part of your normal routine and you stop exercising you will gain weight because you have lost the balance of calories.
Exercise can be fun if you are going to parties where there is dance music dance for 30 minutes during the course of the night -- that counts! If you are visiting relatives go to the gym or go for a walk with you friends and family as part of your bonding time. If it has snowed in your town bundle up go out and play in the snow. It takes extra fuel to walk and play in the snow! For people that love to shop go to the mall and walk window shopping a couple of times before you start buying gifts.
There are many ways you can make exercising fun just be imaginative. It will be worth it when you start 2010 the same weight and health that you left 2009. Or maybe you will be in better shape because you have created new routines! Happy Holiday!
Live Vibrantly,
Dr. Dae
Dr. Dae's website: www.healthydaes.org
Dr. Dae's book: Daelicious! Recipes for Vibrant Living can be purchased @ www.healthydaes.org
Dr. Dae's Bio:
“Dr. Dae" (pronounced Dr. Day) Daemon Jones is a Naturopathic Physician who completed her training at the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine. She is certified as a General Practitioner by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE). Dr. Dae provides tailored treatment to meet the unique needs of every individual she sees in her practice. She also provides specialized support for persons challenged by nutritional deficiencies, weight problems, hormonal and reproductive system disorders, attention deficit disorder and those experiencing chronic diseases. Dr. Dae is an adjunct faculty member for Smith Farm Center for Healing and the Arts. She is the author of Daelicious! Recipes for Vibrant Living. Dr. Dae is a featured chef with www.myfoodmyhealth.com. Dr. Dae is a regularly featured writer for the Elite GoogleNews Website empowher.com where she shares her personal and professional vision for living whole and living well. To learn more about Dr. Dae, her products and services, please visit her on the Web at www.Healthydaes.com.