Join the Effort to Maintain, Not Gain, Over the Holidays

For many, the holiday season officially begins when that first trick-or-treater shows up on their doorstep, looking for something sweet to eat.

But, most people also do their share of overindulging starting this time of year, and thus, the holiday weight gain becomes as much of a tradition as New Year's resolutions.

"When the holidays are over, and the parties are nothing but memories, the cookies have all been eaten, and the drink pitchers are empty, the stress sets in about how to lose that five to 10 pounds you may have gained," said Kimber Waldorf, fitness director at The Health Club at Southpointe. "All of this gives us a reason to make sure we stay current with our exercise routine."

Exercise not only will help us lose those extra pounds, but it has a host of other benefits, as well, according to Waldorf. "Exercise just makes us feel good. When we exercise, we release our own personal feel-good drug in our brains, which can last for hours after we are done exercising. What better way to continue your holiday cheer?"

Additionally, exercise releases stress and nervousness from our bodies and our minds, Waldorf explained. Instead of getting stressed about everything we need to do in preparation for the holidays, we can just enjoy the time with friends and family. 

Exercise also counteracts the feeling of being overwhelmed and perhaps most importantly, we cannot take care of our loved ones if we do not first take care of ourselves.

"It takes 3,500 calories to add one pound of fat," Waldorf said. "If your goal is to permanently lose weight, you need to burn enough calories to make an impact. On average, a 30-minute power walk on flat ground burns about 120 calories. But if you add some hills, jogs, or jumps, you can increase that amount of calories."

Waldorf emphasized that it is important to be healthy, and losing weight is not as easy as it sounds on television and in magazines. It takes time and work, and using the holidays as an excuse for separating from your exercise program will only set you back and add more stress to your life when holiday season is over.

"Research has shown that just 15 minutes of exercise a day can add years to your life," Waldorf said. "Anyone can find 15 minutes a day during the holidays to spend exercising."

To help you find the time and to continue providing you with motivation, The Health Club at Southpointe is again sponsoring its Maintain, Don't Gain campaign, a six-week incentive program designed to help individuals stay motivated to exercise during the busy holiday season.

The program will begin on Monday, Nov. 21. Non-members will receive a complimentary membership to The Health Club at Southpointe for the length of the program.

Each time you workout during the six-week program, you will accumulate years. The more years you accumulate, the better your chances of winning one of the prizes to be awarded at the end of the challenge and the faster you will reach the program's goal of 2012 years.

Every 500 years you accumulate will earn you three raffle tickets in the weekly raffle drawings. Prizes include a Troy Polamalu autographed football, Sabika jewelry, Touchstone Crystal Jewelry, and Eat n Park and Six Penn gift cards.

The cost to participate is only $25 for individuals or $200 for a team of eight. All of the proceeds will be donated to the ALS Therapy Development Institute to benefit research in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

For more information, contact Waldorf at The Health Club at Southpointe at (724) 597-0014 ext. 104.