People come up to me all the time and say:

People come up to me all the time and say:

Your so handsome, and smart, and strong, and good-looking and intelligent, and handy and on and on and I say to them:

I know.

But the truth is we could all use a little help around the holidays, so here are some tips from my brother the physical trainer:

How to be Healthy during the Holidays!

‘Tis the season of family, get-togethers, good food and.....WEIGHT GAIN!

Did you know?

The average WEIGHT GAIN for adults during the holidays is 8-12lbs.

Solution:

Develop a Holiday Health Plan! It may take a little more planning on your part, but mark you calendar and commit to staying on track with your exercise routine. Treat those scheduled workouts like any other important appointment. Next, eat healthy. You don’t have to totally banish the sweets or not partake in the same great foods that everyone else is enjoying – instead just enjoy these holiday treats in moderation. With a moderate approach both to what you eat (or don't eat) and how much exercise you do (or don't do), you can avoid packing on weight AND also partake in all the fun of this time of year. So, get a head start on the New Year instead of starting January with extra pounds to lose. Remember, in order to avoid weight gain you need to be burning just as many calories as you are taking in.

Here’s an example of what it takes to burn off a holiday favorite:

1 piece of pumpkin pie = Est. 320 calories (17g of fat)

Walking at a moderate pace for 1 hour = Est. 320 calories burned

Jogging at 11 min./mile for 30 min. = Est. 320 calories burned

Running at 6 min. / mile for 22 min. = Est. 320 calories burned

Calorie expenditure is based on a healthy adult of 160 lbs. (adjust more calories burned for heavier person and vice versa)

Here are a couple quick tips to help you through the hectic holidays:

• Don’t put your fitness goals off until the New Year, start/keep exercising when you can. Something is better than nothing. Remember – CONSISTENCY!

• Try to eat before attending a holiday party. Make sure that you eat a normal breakfast, lunch and dinner. This will help you be less tempted to over-do it.

• Lastly, watch your additions! Adding gravy, butter or other high calorie condiments can sometimes double your calorie and fat content. This also applies to alcoholic drinks – Yes, the average drink can add 200 calories to your meal.

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"Fitness is a journey, not a destination..."
Brian Young, ACE Certified Personal Trainer
Director of Fitness Programs E.M.U. Rec/IM
Owner of B Young - B Fit LLC
2898 Washtenaw Ave.
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
(734)434-3349
www.byoungbfit.com