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Holiday WAIST Management
Don't let the season bend you out of shape
By Dr. Velonda
Thompson
Health and Nutrition Editor
Tell Us Detroit
From Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, the holiday
season is a six-week obstacle course of high-fat foods,
alcohol, and calories galore. Maneuvering through the
smorgasbord of tempting dessert squares, appetizers,
chips and dip and other scrumptious items that grace the
tables of the festive get-togethers can be a challenge.
However, you can make it through the holiday season, if
not lighter, at least not heavier than you were.
You can avoid the E.M.S. by use the following E.M.R.
plan to help make your holiday a healthy one
Eat Mindfully – Stay in touch with how you feel
and pay attention to how quickly you eat. By slowing
down and savoring the flavor of your food, you may find
you will eat less. Eat regularly - avoid skipping meals
because this will increase your chances of overeating
later. Watch portion sizes – if it doesn’t fit in your
palm, let it go. Focus on variety instead of quantity.
Don’t go to the party or shopping on an empty stomach.
Snack on protein before heading out, like chick strips,
peanuts, cottage cheese or carrots. Eating meals and
snacking often will naturally increase your resting
metabolic rate and you will naturally burn more
calories.
Move – Take every opportunity to move more.
Forget about dieting during the holidays, but make an
effort to exercise. Exercise will keep away extra
calories. Dancing and walking are the easiest forms of
exercise to incorporate this time of year. Give yourself
the gift of thirty minutes of focused movement 3 – 5
days each week. Treadmills, jump rope and yoga are also
great choices.
Relax - Manage your stress by planning. It’s
easier to have a plan that you have to change than to
have no plan at all. Delegate & share the celebration
and the holiday joy and the planning. You are only one
person and you can't do everything. Try not to
over-commitment making sure to get enough. Lack of sleep
will lead to major stress. Don’t forget to MOVE – yoga
is a wonderful way to relieve stress. Laughing is good
for your body and your mind!
Your most important contribution to Holiday WAIST
management and New Year weight control is to get into
the habit of making good food choices. Healthy eating is
the first step reducing the risk for heart disease,
obesity and some forms of cancer.
Peace Within
May you trust your highest power that you are exactly
where you are meant to be,
Smiling by the hour, knowing your faith will keep your
spirit free;
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are
born by forging through,
And use those gifts that you have received - pass on the
love that has been given to you;
May you be content knowing you are a child of God,
Say a prayer daily that gives personal power to his
word;
Into your bones let his presence settle firm and true,
Your soul will sing, dance, praise and love, it’s there
for each and every one of you.
Yours in health: Velonda Thompson, PhD
 Dr.
Velonda Thompson is president of Be-Fit Inc, a health
promotion organization, providing a variety of
conference; corporate, small business, and
individualized health promotion services in the Detroit
metropolitan area since 1989.
Ms. Thompson has completed doctoral studies in the field
of nutrition and health promotion. As a nutritionist,
Dr. Thompson is the author of an educational cookbook
entitled “Pass the Sweet Potatoes, Please!”
Dr. Thompson has also spent numerous years in the
non-profit sector facilitating physical fitness,
nutrition education and health promotion activities for
youth 6 years of age and older. For more
information visit the website:
www.drvelonda.com
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