It’s that time of the year again, sleighs bells are ringing and children are singing. Well, maybe there aren’t any sleighs here in Miami but the holiday season is truly here. Throughout the country we are in the holiday feeling and fall is in the air. The stores are full of Christmas decorations. The children are writing their Christmas and Hanukkah list. Let me stop, there won’t be a white Christmas here in Miami. Not since our temperature is still in the nineties. Yet, the holiday spirit is definitely in the air. Thanksgiving feast, Christmas parties and other holiday traditions are here. Let’s not forget Halloween. If you have children you might still be eating their treats and the left over candy. As a result of this from Halloween to Christmas is the time that most people gain weight.
Do you know that the average person consumed between 2,500 to 3,000 calories and over 140 grams of fat in their Thanksgiving meal. That’s excluding breakfast, lunch and Thanksgiving snacks. Those statistics are for the average American Thanksgiving meal. You know turkey with stuffing, mash potato with gravy, rolls, corn and pumpkin pie. Those numbers will surely multiply if you are of Hispanic heritage. As a Cuban American growing up we substituted the mash potatoes with white rice and black beans cooked in lard. I also know of families that have pork on that day and let’s not forget the flan as a dessert.
Lets face it from October 31 to December 31 is not the time to start a new diet, yet you can survive the holiday weight gain season with physical training and eating sensibly. Remember we live in a tropical paradise so we might miss out on a White Christmas and we will surely not get hit by a snow storm. Here in sunny South Florida we have no excuse not to stay fit if we exercise throughout the holidays. Don’t wait until the New Year to start your resolution and get in shape. I know this is the hardest time of the year to stick to an exercise program, yet the easiest time to gain weight. Let’s face it if you do not tackle the problem now you’ll continue the yoyo dieting for ever.
Here are some tips to survive the holiday’s weight gain. Stay active and fit throughout the holiday season by working out harder before the high calorie holiday meals. My favorite workout is kettlebell training. With 2 kettlebells there is no need to go to the gym. They take up little space and you’ll get a great functional aerobic and anaerobic workout in 30 minutes. You should also have a healthy breakfast, lunch and snacks so when you sit down to have the holiday meal you do not over eat. Walk after the meal, even if it’s a few hours after the party is over. You do not have to starve yourself during the holiday season. Just start doing some physical activities. If you are not currently working out don’t wait until January start today.
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