Sarah Nave, Clinical Nutrition
The best advice is to change your mind-set through the holidays. Try not to focus on losing weight; instead, focus on not gaining. Allow yourself to splurge on foods that make your holiday season meaningful but remember to enjoy your favorites in small amounts. Try to cut back in other ways, and keep your exercise schedule on track for continued success throughout the holiday season.
Kayla Hammond, Physical Therapist
It’s important to prevent injury while shoveling snow and working outside. Remember to bend your knees and use your legs to lift the snow rather than bending forward from your lower back. Also try to limit twisting when removing snow as this repetitive motion can lead to low back fatigue. Take a short standing rest break every few minutes to stand up and change your position. Please be aware of the surface you’re standing on as there may be ice under the snow which could lead to a fall. In general try not to move too quickly and hurry through your snow removal; when we start to hurry we forget about our body mechanics.
Claudia Meiwald, Director of Behavioral Health
The Holiday season can be a wonderful time of celebration and joy, but it can also be accompanied by the not-so-welcome guests of stress or feeling blue. With all of the extra shopping, cooking, baking, cleaning and entertaining, stress can often come to the surface during a time that we want to truly enjoy.
Some practical tips to help cope with the stress of the season are:
- Be realistic – Set reasonable expectations; holidays don’t have to be perfect
- If giving gifts – stick to your budget; shop early
- Simplify holiday commitments and traditions
- Schedule time with family and friends
- Continue to exercise and watch your diet; avoid starving yourself before the big party as this can lead to overindulging
- Take time for yourself and rest when you are tired
If feeling blue during the season:
- Stay active go for walks, window shop
- Volunteer to help others – It will help you feel less isolated
- Try to appreciate the good things that are in your life now instead of focusing on the past
- Try something new
- Spend time with those who care about you
- Get help if you need it.
