Winter Wellness Tips

I don't know about you, but as a child, I always looked forward to the holidays because I knew I'd get time off from school, receive Christmas gifts from Santa and enjoy playing outside in the snow. As adults, though, we tend to become overwhelmed by the stress and burden of the holidays with their requisite shopping, decorating, cooking and pleasing others. Sometimes, we get so stressed out thinking about everything we have to do, that we're never actually able to fully enjoy the season.

With so much to do, the good things that we have been doing for ourselves all year long, such as exercising and eating healthy, are usually some of the first things to go by the wayside. We may feel like we have to drop them to make time for all our other "obligations."

But take heart. You can still achieve the motivation and confidence you need to maintain health and wellness during this wonderful time of the year, while actually getting everything done and, yes, even enjoying it!

Let's look at some common activities usually tackled around this time of year that you can turn into feats of fitness:

1. Raking leaves

In the fall, the number-one outdoor chore in many areas is probably picking up leaves. This usually boring and mundane activity can become a fun, family fitness event! Plan one hour a week—say, each Saturday morning from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.—where you and your family will take turns raking—yes, RAKING! Leave those gas blowers in the shed! Raking leaves at a brisk pace is a serious calorie-burner and full-body exercise. In fact, it can burn up to 300 calories an hour.

You can also incorporate some "interval training" (similar to what you might do during your usual cardio exercise) to burn even more calories. For example, try raking as quickly and intensely as you can for one minute, and then rake at a slower, controlled pace for one minute. Do this for 10 to 15 minutes or more, and you'll be burning some serious calories! Then switch, letting another family member rake for 10 minutes while you bag the piles of leaves. With this activity, you'll be doing a lot of squatting and really getting those legs working.

Once winter arrives, for those in cold climates, snow shoveling can burn even MORE calories—up to 400 an hour! And if it's really cold, try chopping firewood to burn more than 400 calories an hour.

2. Doing housework

The holidays are typically a time for entertaining visitors and houseguests. Throw in a holiday party or two, and suddenly keeping your house clean is hard work. Just one hour of cleaning can burn almost 200 calories. Do this one to three hours a week and it can add up fast.

And remember: putting up, decorating and taking down a Christmas tree; decorating the house; and even putting up lights can significantly add to the number of calories you can burn.

3. Shopping—the old-fashioned way

Nowadays, many of us do our holiday shopping online, sitting in a chair in front of the computer. It's convenient, right? But shopping the old-fashioned way—actually getting out and walking from store to store—is a great cardio activity. Add in fighting your way through the crowds and carrying shopping bags around, and you've got yourself a serious workout!

The tip here is to try shopping for (gulp!) one hour, one to three times a week (try devoting one hour of shopping for each person on your list). Use "window shopping" to your advantage! If you don't know what to get Dad for Christmas for the fortieth year in a row, then take advantage of walking around and looking from store to store in the mall while you get your workout in. Who knows? You might just stumble upon the perfect gift in the process!

Just one to three hours a week engaged in any (or all) of these everyday activities can significantly impact your level of fitness! But let's not forget diet and nutrition. During this busy time of year, we need to continue eating right and snacking smart. Here are just a couple snacks that go especially well with the winter season:

Walnuts. This great winter nut is a wonderful source of those healthy fats, protein, fiber and essential amino acids we all need. Keep a handful with you in a plastic bag to carry in your car, purse, briefcase or laptop bag. Walnuts also make a healthy addition to winter recipes.

Winter squash. Acorn and butternut squash are readily available in the supermarkets this time of year. They're also healthy, tasty and very versatile in recipes. Even something as simple as chopping an acorn squash in half, scooping out the seeds, sprinkling a little cinnamon or drizzling a teaspoon of honey inside, and then baking for an hour at 350° to 400°, makes a tasty, healthy snack or side dish. Check out some other healthy squash recipes here.

So there you have it—a few ideas to help you keep up the level of fitness you've worked so hard all year to achieve! Be creative, stay motivated and enjoy the holidays!

Scott Miles 01 Dec, 2011

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Source: http://www.healthyscience.net/winter-wellness-tips/
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