SanTanValley.com

This time of year is always a time of joy, laughter, family, love, and... TREATS! The amount of holiday goodies we see (and smell), from meals to desserts to cocktails, are endless right now. It's definitely a time to enjoy good company. For many of us, that also means enjoying the company of a few extra pounds (the average person gains between 5 and 10lbs during the holidays!) Wherever you are in your health, it doesn't have to mean a time to completely let go of your otherwise partially working self-control. There are many things you can do to help combat that "holiday weight" many think is inevitable and still enjoy yourself. Here are just a few tips to help:

There’s a lot of information regarding the benefits of exercise on the body, of course on weight loss, adipose (fat) tissue, lean muscle mass, metabolism, even on long-term health and preventing disease. What’s not often emphasized is the affect exercise has on another very important aspect of the human body. The brain.

“I’m sitting at my desk, up to my eye balls in work to finish and I almost forget it’s lunch time. I hurry out to get my usual and by the time I get back to my computer to work I can hardly keep my eyes open. The only thing that sounds appealing is a cozy bed and a nice pillow, even if only for 30 minutes, it’s got to help. I can’t help but feel like I just had this afternoon crash. So much for starting to exercise today, I’m way too tired..”

“If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude” - Maya Angelou

I am a strong believer in the power of Attitude. I have seen the power of attitude dramatically alter the lives of many, both positively as well as negatively. I imagine we can all think of a person that’s been through the ringer, kicked a few times when they’re already down, yet still gets up with a smile to go on. They’ve been given every reason to drown in self pity, yet they choose the better attitude. I believe a person’s attitude dictates the very path to which they achieve their highest success… or alternatively, wallow in what feels like a dark hole. Success doesn’t choose people, people choose success. Each of us holds the key to our own success in life, and this absolutely pertains to our own health & fitness.

If I’ve learned one thing as a personal trainer it’s this… The margin between achieving a goal vs. not achieving that goal is measured in the number of excuses you allow yourself to make for why you CAN’T do something. It’s probably said best by the old saying, “Excuses are like ***-holes, everyone has one and they all STINK!”  It’s funny at first. But today I challenge you to look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself if you’ve ever made an excuse for something you know you needed to do. Chances may be that you are making an excuse for something in your life right now! I’m willing to guess that about 65% of Arizona is making an excuse for the same thing right now. Our weight. Why 65%? According to a report from the Arizona Department of Health Services in December (2011), 65% of the adult population of Arizona is either overweight or obese.* When I first read that…wow. That number is quite startling to be honest. Then I realized something. 

There’s a lot that can be said about the society we live in today. We can have almost everything we want faster than ever before. We don’t have to cash a check to have access to the money, simply take a picture and it’s there. You can call ahead your order to a restaurant and see the person you’re talking to through your phone. At your fingertips.