We all try to keep too many balls in the air at this time of year. Work Christmas parties, children’s concerts, other family commitments, pre-Christmas work deadlines, Christmas shopping, getting the house ready to withstand scrutiny from even the toughest in law – we’ve all been there and for some unknown reason, each year we do it again.

One of those balls is bound to fall sooner or later. Here are some tips for maintaing good health over the Christmas period.

• Make exercise a priority. Even if you only have twenty minutes to go for a walk or run or swim, do it. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking “I really wanted to go for an hour but don’t have time for that, so I won’t do anything at all.” Anything is better than nothing. It will not only help to maintain you at your current fitness levels, it will keep you in the habit of exercising.
• Take this opportunity to be active with your kids. Bike ride with them, kick a football, body surf, throw them in the air (but don’t be tempted to drop them), bushwalk, stroll around the neighbourhood after dinner. We live in one of the best cities in the world, with a great climate, and this time of the year there is simply no excuse for just sitting around.
• Try not to go to a party hungry. Eat enough a couple of hours before you go so that you won’t feel the need to hover at the food table for the first few hours.
• Make the healthiest food choices you can under the circumstances. If a dip is served with crackers and vegetables, dip the vegetables in, not the fat laden crackers.
• Before you put something in your mouth, ask yourself is it really worthwhile getting fat over? Can you go without this so you can really enjoy something else. If Christmas pudding with all the trimmings is really your thing, forego the chocolate money and a second serving of ham.
• Don’t feel guilty about what you have eaten or drunk. If you have overindulged, get over it. The world won’t end. Just acknowledge that you’ve taken on far more fuel than you can possibly use up all in one day, and eat less the next day, and the next if you’ve really stuffed yourself.
• Spend as much time as you can laughing and relaxing. It will do wonders for your sense of well being, and what could be more revitalising than a good old fashioned belly laugh every day?

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS