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LYNNE BRICK'S TOP TEN FITNESS TIPS- Merry Fitness and a Happy New Rear! |
1. Santa's Middle Management
Fat around the middle has been found to be more of a health problem than fat in other places. Even if your health risk is low, a high waist circumference may be a warning sign that you should eat healthy and exercise. What's considered high? For men, >40 inches (201 cm), and for women, >35 inches (88 cm). Manage your middle to manage your health.
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2. Party Hearty!
Party for your Heart. In other words, focus on heart-healthy snacks or party foods. Fresh veggies, whole grain crackers, low or no sodium snacks as well as fat-free foods will keep your heart healthy well into 2007.
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3. Holiday Kneads!
This is the perfect time of year to focus on YOUR needs! A massage not only helps you to relax and de-stress, it also helps your blood to circulate to all of your muscles, gives your skin a healthy glow, and helps you to re-energize. You can give yourself an instant massage by "kneading" your neck and shoulder muscles!
5. Feast-ival of Trees
Every time I eat broccoli or cauliflower, I think of trees. These healthy veggies are packed with vitamins & minerals (vitamins A, B, C, as well as calcium and iron) and anti-carcinogenic agents (i.e. beta-carotene). Eat a feast-ival of "trees" for healthy holidays!
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4. Tree Trimming "Tush" Tightener
Focus on tradition! One of the best over-all exercises you can do is the traditional SQUAT. Bend your knees with your feet under your hips. Sit back as if you're going to sit on a bench with your body weight on your heels. Then simply, return to a standing position with a straight spine. Trim your tree and trim your "tush" or buns at the same time!
6. Play Dear Games
Play basketball, play soccer, play tennis, or simply play with the people who are the most dear to you. Your children will be endeared to you forever for any family bonding exercise! P.S. Between ages 2-17, kids watch an average of 15,000-18,000 hours of TV, which has been associated with childhood obesity. That's equal to three years of their waking lives!
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7. Festive Presence
Attend each holiday gathering with presence ….. stand up straight with your shoulders back, chest lifted, abdominals tight and back aligned in a line. Straighter posture can help you look 2-5 pounds slimmer; a 'present' for yourself!
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8. Seasonal Spirits
Stretch your bar calories by cutting them in half. Drink wine spritzers (1/2 wine, ½ sparkling water), drinking lite beer, and dilute other beverages with fruit juices to stretch your spirits! |
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9. Yule-Tid-E Up!
This holiday, don't sweat it if you don't have much time to exercise. Research shows that 30 minutes of physical activity over the course of the day can make a dramatic difference to improve your health. Physical activity such as washing the car, scrubbing the bathroom, vacuuming and vigorous dusting can burn up to 280 calories per hour!
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10. Folly-Days!
'Tis the season to be jolly and have fun! Focus on the "fun" factor while you exercise by choosing the activities that you like to do…. Ski, play sports, walk…. OR try something different such as indoor group cycling, group strength training or yoga. Besides, the Surgeon General has determined that lack of exercise is the equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. So focus on FUN ways to exercise and have Healthy "Folly-Days"!
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P.S. If you "cheat" between Thanksgiving and New Years, don't worry, be happy! Instead, live a healthy life-style between New Years and Thanksgiving!
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