Halloween is the unofficial beginning of the holiday season – first trick or treating, followed closely by Thanksgiving and Christmas. Ready or not, the holidays are here. At Advantage Chiropractic Clinic, we stress the importance of every-day health. From nutritional awareness to adding exercise to your daily routine, small changes can make all the difference, especially during this time of year. Before the Halloween candy run, Thanksgiving feast or Christmas treats, a few quick tips can help you power through the season. Here are a few healthy practices to carry you from Halloween through New Year’s Day:
• Stretch and warm-up
We hear it all the time – “We are just walking house to house for Halloween. Why would we need a warm up?” Trick or Treating can add miles to your daily exercise routine, resulting in a sore body and possible injury. And in just a few short weeks, you may have added strain from Thanksgiving touch football or marathon holiday shopping. Spending a few minutes to warm up could make all the difference in how you feel for the rest of the week. This year, try doing a quick cycle of lunges, arm circles and toe touches before out-of-the-ordinary activity. We promise you won’t regret it.
• Develop a walking routine
You may feel like spending the holiday evenings where you’re most comfortable – on the couch with a stomach full of cornbread dressing. This year, we encourage you to resist the urge! Instead, lace up your tennis shoes. After a meal, walking clears glucose from the bloodstream to lower blood sugar and helps your digestive system function (read: stops bloating and allows you to button your jeans again, even if you had one-too-many servings of turkey). Mix things up by taking different routes or having your family dog tag along. You might just see a few pounds fall off this holiday season.
• Set goals
Even though these holidays are food-driven, they are good opportunities for exercise. Set goals for distance walking while Trick or Treating or shopping. Create a new family tradition of running a Turkey Trot race. Get moving with a game of family football. Setting goals to get up and move every day of the holiday season will help you feel good all year long.
Before you get off to the holiday races, come see us at Advantage Chiropractic Clinic. We’ll check your alignment, give you nutritional tips and clear you for holiday exercise. We’d love to help you make this the best and healthiest holiday season yet!