Okay, we’re settled into the new year. Some or all, or maybe one of you, has kept up with your New Year’s Resolution and even found a way to reset last month from holiday spending. Now it’s time to recover from holiday feasting. Here at Tycor, we held our first Christmas Cookie Exchange in December which resulted in me coming home with almost 70 cookies of all shapes and sizes. Cookies were eaten for all 3 meals based on fruit toppings in the morning, grains in the afternoon (i.e., oatmeal) and chocolate in the evenings. Somehow, I equated this approach to a “balanced diet.”
In my mind, those cookies and the holidays in general were the downfall to all of my wellness initiatives. Did I fail to mention that I also barely moved my body for the last two weeks of December due to changes in weather, a sprinkling of vacation days and overall holiday stress? Let’s get one thing straight. Weight gain during the holidays is a fat, ugly myth. Very few people really gain as much as five pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year's. The weight gain comes after the holidays, when people don't drop the one or two pounds they picked up during that time. Unfortunately those small weight gains start to add up over the years which puts us at risk for major medical problems including heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. (Davis, n.d.)
For many of us, January marks a new beginning, a “refresh”, and we feel ready to make big lifestyle changes, especially when it comes to exercise. But why do so many of those initiatives fall away? The truth is that many of us have not yet established our new routine. Not only that, but it’s winter. It’s dark when we get up, even darker at the end of the workday, and some of us spend most of that day in an office, or any building for that matter, with limited or no sunlight. This lack of sunlight precipitates gloom and sadness and It’s not uncommon to feel overwhelmed, lethargic, and unmotivated to exercise when feeling depressed. (Lindberg, 2021)
So, we are setting our fitness goals in February. Hopefully you have settled into the new year, it’s a short month and we’re going to incorporate a manageable workout regimen—a formula for success! The Get Fit in February Challenge will not consist of one long workout every day. Instead, we’re going to break the time up into chunks. Small achievable chunks. For example, if your goal is to walk 20 minutes a day, divide the time into two workouts of 10 minutes each. Walk in the morning, and again at lunch or before it gets dark. If you utilize fitness apps, engage in the quick 5–7-minute routine and do that twice or even 3 times a day rather than mustering up the time and energy for that 30-minute workout. And for those of you, like me, who like old school calisthenics and easy to follow 30 Day Challenge Calendars, follow along with Tycor's Get Fit in February Calendar—if possible, do the workouts twice a day. Our goal is to rebuild our stamina by making our workouts short, sweet, and realistic.
Benefit Bonus: February 1st also marks the beginning of American Heart Month so not only are we strategizing to get fit and feel better, but we are also actively taking care of our heart. What could be better?
How can we help you? We are always happy to answer your questions...feel free to CONTACT US!
Sources:
Davis, J. L. (n.d.). www.webmd.com. Retrieved from Holiday Weight Gain a Big Fat Lie: https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/holiday-weight-gain-big-fat-lie
Lindberg, S. (2021, January 4). How to Beat the Winter Blues. Retrieved from www.verywellmind.com: https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-beat-the-winter-blues-5087998