Fight the festive flab
JOBURG - Peter Jordan provides tips on how to fight the festive season flab.
While the festive season is a great time to relax and unwind with friends and family, the festivities can wreak havoc with exercise and eating programmes.
Once festivities begin it’s all too easy to replace exercise time for an extra drink or a few more minutes around the cookie jar.
Principal Officer of Fedhealth Peter Jordan warns that letting your hair down for too long during the festive season could affect a person’s health or fitness.
“According to a survey done by The British Dietetic Association, on average, people gain 2kg in the four weeks around Christmas alone. Research shows that this 500g per week weight gain can continue well into the New Year too,” Jordan revealed.
Jordan believes a healthy dose of exercise and avoiding total overindulgence can lead to a healthier you in the New Year.
He advises South Africans to take advantage of the sunny festive season and get active
Jordan offers tips to fight the flab over the festive season:
Exercise early in the morning. Make the most of the early sunrise and head out before the rest of the family wakes up.
– Drink a glass of water before consuming food or soft drinks. This will help to keep you from overindulging in those extra calories.
– Try some new activities like swimming, rollerblading, sea-kayaking, stand up paddling, or a mountain bike ride for a good workout.
– Enjoy the warm summer evenings and go for a walk around the neighbourhood after dinner. This helps keep your metabolism high so you burn more calories while you sleep.
– Say no to seconds! Just because there is extra food around doesn’t mean you have to eat it. Enjoy the celebrations but avoid having seconds and getting into the habit of snacking throughout the day. Try keeping some healthy snack options, like fruit, around the house.
“There’s nothing more depressing than putting on your work clothes in January to discover they are quite a bit tighter than they were in November. Make this festive season a healthy one,” Jordan concluded.
Details: www.active4life.co.za
