Healthy Holidays to You!
The holidays seem to come earlier and earlier every year — and along with them, the stresses and strains of frenzied holiday shopping. Take a stroll through your local mall, and you’ll see symbols of the holiday season — from Christmas decorations to notices of blowout sales. As your muscles tense with each passing day, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) asks, “Are you ready for the holiday shopping challenge?”
Treat Holiday Shopping As An Athletic Event
- Stay hydrated! Drink eight to ten 8-ounce glasses of water a day. (Coffee, tea, soft drinks and alcohol are dehydrators. Don’t substitute them for water.) On shopping days, you may need to drink even more water.
- Be sure to stretch before and after a long day of shopping. When you are stressed-out, your muscles are less flexible than usual.
- Wear shoes with plenty of cushioning in the soles to absorb the impact of walking on those hard shopping mall floors.
- Make sure your clothing is as comfortable as possible. It’s a good idea to wear layers, because you may be going from a cold environment (outdoors) to a warm environment (indoors).
- Leave your purse at home. Wear a light fanny pack, or if necessary, a light backpack instead. Pack only those items that are absolutely essential (driver’s license, credit card, etc.).
- If you start to feel some pain, nip it in the bud. Apply an ice bag to the affected area for 20 minutes, then take it off for a couple of hours. Repeat a couple of times each day over the next day or two.
Try these delicious and healthy recipes for your next holiday gathering …..and most of all, relax and enjoy the holiday season!!
Yours in good health,
Heather
Health Coach & AFAA Certified Personal Trainer
FitEffex@gmail.com
(508) 523-6143
