Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on Health Watch, we’ve been talking about avoiding holiday weight gain while still enjoying the holiday season. Most of our suggestions have involved food, but now it’s time to look at the other side of the equation: exercise. Lona Sandon, a registered dietitian at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says 30 minutes a day of brisk exercise is a good goal. Extra activity can also make up for the extra calories you may be taking in.
When doing your holiday shopping, park farther away from the store entrance, or you could walk an extra lap around the mall before or after shopping. You could balance the trend toward holiday party gluttony by planning activities that focus more on exercise than on food. Skiing, ice skating, caroling up and down the block or taking a walk around the neighborhood to look at decorations might just be the ticket.
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November 2007
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