Holiday Fitness Survival
Posted: Monday, November 02, 2009
By Deana Guidi
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Deana, I agree - there is a big picture to be considered. A little planning and restraint are a good mix. Now, that doesn't mean I have mastered either! Good article.Thanks, Lorrie. I am trying to convey the message that being fit is primarily a state of mind. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Deana,You are my new fitness expert! Thanks for sharing very helpful information.Hey Ronyae! I am honored to be your new fitness expert. Thank you for reading and commenting.
You make it sound so easy. Let's see if this year can be different!!Hi Nick. I know any change is not easy. I just wanted to point out in my article that a change in a thinking pattern usually precedes a change in behavior. A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step :)
OK where can I sign up to borrow, beg, or swipe some of your incredible "won't " power... I won't, I won't, I won't.... a moment on the lips and forever on the hips is definitely a reality. I have lost this year with great blood,sweat and tears... good piece. MarijoHi Marijo, thank you for reading and responding. A bonus tip: perhaps instead of "I won't" think of "I will" say yes to something you really like that is not forever on the hips. Back in the day, I loved ice cream and cookies. I could hardly go a day without. Last year, I had severe acne. My doctor told me to stop eating dairy. Apparently, dairy aggravates skin conditions. Almost all desserts have some form of dairy in them. I found a great coconut milk ice cream that I eat on special occassions. Otherwise, I eat fruit for dessert. Fruit also is great for your skin. A year later, I have a great complexion, and I really like my new desserts. My body probably would not know what to do with gelato anymore. Nutrition is so much about attitude and habit. You can train your brain to love an apple as much as apple pie :)I have some early blood sugar issues and am now trying to eat according to the Glycemic Index of foods - you actually quit wanting to eat everything in the cupboard when you get those sugar cravings turned off - love fruit and once in awhile I can have some dark chocolate - works until I fall off the wagon but that happens less and less as I go on. Thanks for your help! MarijoGreat! So true. Just following the glycemic index goes a long way toward good health.
Joe Fit sounds inhuman but I know he really isn't.Hi Jim. Thank you for reading and responding. Actually, my fiance is Joe Fit. He could care less about junk food. Also, generally, my friends who are active (runners, skaters, body builders) really don't care about junk food. It's just a mind set.And once you get the insulin faucets turned down (that's what makes you store FAT instead of burning it) even a whole grained granola bar will taste too sweet - you CAN do it - I have. South Beach was not really so far off.... MarijoKudos to you, Marijo! Everything you said is true.
Joe fit will likely live longer than Paul paunch;I have given up trying to get in shape;I now realize that round IS a shape! Lovely article and well written.Paul, as long as you are happy, then I am happy for you. Thank you once again for reading and commenting. Have a great weekend.You're sweet(and not caloric) as well as fit as a fiddle! I shall endeavor to meet some friends for dinners on Saturday and Sunday and will TRY not to eat too many fats and sugars; does lifting a fork count as exercise?Paul SchroederHow much weight will be on the fork? Enough to reach temporary muscle failure in the biceps? I just had an interesting thought. The bigger someone gets, the less he has to do to get a good workout for his fitness level. So by eating more, he puts himself into a category of people who have to do less. Otherwise, he might overexert himself. What a plan! By the way, I am NOT commenting about you personally. I just thought of this paradox.Actually, on Sesame Street, Miss Piggy has a documented quote about this; she says, and I quote;"Never eat more at one meal than you can lift with both hands!"I love Miss Piggy.
It sounds like you're surrounded by friends who live, eat and think like you do, which makes it much easier to stick to a healthy lifestyle. I found myself having a drink with a friend just because they invited me to, not because I really want the drink, or having a dessert I didn't want, just to be polite. I've learned to say no or substitute it with something healthier. I used to over indulge during the holidays, but find now if I sample just a small portion of the treats I want to try and stick to my exercise routine as best I can with all the traveling we do, I come through it OK and don't feel I've missed out on anything.Great for you! Yes, I am blessed with friends and family who like to be active and take care of themselves. I also have friends who are overweight who I love dearly. I do not say anything, but I noticed that they really like to drink and eat heavy foods. That seems to be there "reward." I feel that they are holding each other back, but, again, I never say anything. At least to some extent, we become like the company we keep. I try to be aware of what influences me so I could conciously decided whether I want the influence.I admire people who manage to stay fit while traveling. I had a client who jogged in his hotel room before appointments. He turned on the cable TV and just moved for a half hour. You would never know he spent almost 20 years on the road.
Deana,Great article and super advice. I was taught to get up from the table feeling like I could eat more. That is one of the best pieces of advice my mother gave me. It has served me well. It is a shame more people don't understand that idea.Thank you Nancy. Can I borrow your mother? I need to keep that tip in mind too - walk away from the table when you feel like you could eat more. It takes the brain about 20 minutes to send a full message. Walking away prevents overeating before the brain sends the "full" message.
What a timely piece! Thanks for posting it. I think we need to remember that holiday partying can be about more than just the food and drink. What a perfect time to meet and greet those whom you haven't seen for a while. I'm going to focus on that this holiday season!
Hey Deana, this is awesome! I'm sure alot of readers will take this article into consideration...Health is very important and it starts with a good diet and workout plan...but like u said, its a mind state....Strong minds will get you far...along with self-indiscipline and self-motivation...I love working out and eating right....now, it's like a habit that I don't even have to force myself to do...I do all the right things naturally.....great article Deana....5 stars!!!Arnold, thank you for your kind words. Congratulations on your commitment to your health. You are absolutely right that once you are in the habit of exercising and eating healthy, you will not have to force yourself to do it.
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Deana Guidi is a Master Personal Trainer, Nutrition and Wellness Consultant, and Sports Conditioning Specialist through the American Fitness Professionals Association (AFPA). She has worked as a personal trainer since 2003 and began writing and offering online personal training in 2009 through Free Movement Fitness Inc. She has embraced fitness with a passion since she was a child and enjoys figure skating and running. Her training website is located at http:\\freemovementfitness.efitnesstracker.com.
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