Community Health and Wellness Partner, Wayne Densch YMCA Family Center Offers Tips on Staying Healthy During the Holidays

Between the Thanksgiving and New Years Eve holidays, most Americans gain anywhere between 2-8 lbs., with an average gain of 3.5 lbs. As we know, weight gain, can lead to various illnesses. What can you do to make sure you make healthy choices this holiday season?

Recognize common causes of weight gain:

• Social Pressure – The holidays are a socially sanctioned time to relax, stop caring about health and eat what you want. But people still feel guilty about this so, they’ll pressure you to join them so they can feel better about their own indulgences.
• Stress – Holiday commitments means stress; stress means comfort eating and no one comfort eats – celery sticks. Cortisol (the stress hormone) also promotes weight gain, especially the dreaded “belly fat.”
• Broken routines – Traveling means you spend a lot of time sitting; you get thrown off your regular exercise routine and you’re not always in control of your food.
• Emotional associations – Maybe it’s no struggle for you to pass up any random candy on the street, but if Grandma made it just for you, it gets a lot harder, especially if you have fond memories of eating it in years past.

What can you do?

• Surround yourself with like-minded friends/family members
  • Set yourself up for success!
• Don’t get hungry
  • Make sure you eat enough protein to curb your sensations.
• Have a plan
  • Make sure you plan your meals and if you are going to indulge, make sure it’s in healthy increments.

The Wayne Densch YMCA staff wishes you a Safe, Fun and Healthy Holiday Season! Submitted by: Associate Executive Director, Jeremy Garren. The Wayne Densch YMCA Family Center is located at 870 N. Hastings St., Orlando, FL 32808. Phone: (407) 299-4350.

© Orlando Community News, 2016