Turkey and Eggnog and Pies, Oh My! Don’t Become Part of the Holiday Statistics

MERRIMACK, NH — Thanksgiving will mark the beginning of large dinners, parties and lots of dessert. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that the average American gains one pound over the holiday season, the time marked from Thanksgiving through the New Year.

Though that may not sound like much, the study found that the one pound remains after the holidays, so it accumulates year after year through adulthood.

Kim Hickman, director of Member Engagement and Wellness at YMCA of Greater Nashua, offered some tips for staying healthy and calm through the New Year.

Fitness

Hickman said a key is to keep exercise in your life.

“Planning ahead is important. Our schedules get crazy,” she said. “Look at the next five weeks and schedule classes.”

Hickman said that any member of the community can try the YMCA out for a week for free, including classes.

A couple of other suggestions were:

Take yoga type classes to help manage the stress that comes with the holiday season.

At home workouts save time and make it easy before heading out to holiday festivities. Hickman recommended body weight exercises like pushups, lunges and burpees.

Food

When it comes to eating, here are Hickman’s top tips:

Drink lots of water and eat healthy during the day, if you have a party in the evening.

Like exercise, make a plan to stay on track.

Bring healthy options to parties. Hickman shared a couple of recipes that staff has posted at the YMCA: Balsamic and Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower and Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Dried Cherries and Pecans.

Limit alcohol and desserts.

“They will pack the biggest punch in terms of calories,” Hickman said.

And the final advice Hickman said she always offers: “Be kind to yourself,” she said. “If you have one bad day, it won’t ruin your efforts. Get back on track the next day.”

Image via Shutterstock.