So everyone's plates have been loaded up with turkey, stuffing, green beans, corn and Aunt Susie's sweet potato casserole, and the tradition known as Thanksgiving has passed. It's officially Christmastime for those who celebrate it.
Halls are being decked as we speak, cookies are being mass-produced by haggard grandparents, and credit card bills are rising like tsunamis.
But what's missing from this picture?
Exercise.
It's always the one you least suspect, isn't it?
When it's miserably cold, no one wants to go outside. No one wants to warm up the car, scrape the ice off the windshield, bundle up and drive to the gym or track to put in a good workout session.
It's easier and more comfortable to snuggle up on the couch with a blanket and the latest season of "Arrested Development," laughing through the snowstorms and bitter winds.
Still, keeping up on that exercise, as well as watching what we eat, can help prevent some unwanted junk in the trunk come Spring Break.
Fostering healthy eating habits is a crucial practice during the holidays. Many people gain weight when the temperature drops and the comfort foods resurface at family gatherings and for late-night cupboard raids, but there are many ways to stay healthy despite the temptations of fruitcake.
Be sure to check the nutrition labels on food purchases and avoid items with a high percentage of saturated and trans fat. Use cooking substitutes like margarine, extra virgin olive oil or Splenda whenever possible to lower the calorie and fat counts in recipes. Also, before you arrive at a gathering, set a limit on the number of cookies or cake and pie slices you'll consume - and stick to it. If necessary, recruit a cousin to monitor your consumption.
Despite humans' bear-like urge to hibernate during the winter months, it's just as important to get the body moving and expend calories now as it is during bikini season. A consistent exercise routine helps maintain metabolism and muscle mass, as well as warding off the accumulation of excess fat. It's helpful to infuse a bit of fun into a workout now and then, just to fend off boredom and keep things fresh. Try a type of exercise that you haven't attempted before - perhaps swing dancing, indoor rock climbing, hatha yoga or even aerobic striptease. And don't forget to stretch those muscles before and after working out to reduce soreness.
While the truly dedicated will don heavy-duty gloves and sweaters to continue their daily outdoor running routines, the rest of us can comfortably exercise indoors at Irving Gym or Ball Gym on campus and any location of the Muncie YMCA. If cost is less of an issue, there are several private gyms in town as well.
People are social creatures, and social interaction is what motivates us. In general, people are more likely to follow a consistent workout routine when accompanied by friends. In other words, it's harder to skip a workout when you know another person will be counting on you to be there.
So get out and join a team - or better yet, form one yourself. Get a running buddy or workout partner.
Otherwise, next year you might have to ask Santa for a little something to take care of that spare tire ... and I don't mean the one in the car.
Write to Marie at
mmzatezalo@bsu.edu
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