| Conquering Stress and Food Temptations During the Holidays
Tri-City Voice, November 25, 2009
Starting with tomorrow's Thanksgiving
feast, most of us will plunge headlong
into the holiday season, enjoying
various celebrations with family and
friends. Unfortunately, the busy holiday
season can bring more stress to your
already busy life, which increases the
temptations to overeat, skip your normal
exercise routine and consume too much
alcohol. You'll enjoy your holidays more
fully if you keep those factors under
control, rather than letting them
control you. To help you control
stress and maintain a healthy diet
during the holidays, Washington Hospital
is sponsoring a special Health &
Wellness seminar on Tuesday, December 1
from 1 to 3 p.m. The seminar will
include presentations by family medicine
physician Dr. Seema Sharma and
registered dietitian Anna Mazzei, RD.
The seminar will be held in the Conrad
E. Anderson, M.D. Auditorium, Rooms A &
B, in the Washington West Building
located at 2500 Mowry Avenue in Fremont.
For more information, or to register to
attend, please call (800) 963-7070.
Reduce Your Stress Level "The
stress of the holidays can really wear
you out, lowering your resistance to
colds and the flu," says Sharma. "This
time of year, it's even more important
to pace yourself and avoid becoming
overly stressed. You also need to
support your body's immune system by
eating well and staying fit. Plus, if
you haven't already done so, you should
consult your physician about getting
vaccinations against the H1N1 flu virus
and the seasonal flu. Even though it's
nearly December, flu shots can still
provide valuable protection." Noting
that this year's holiday celebrations
may be even more stressful than usual
because of current economic conditions,
Sharma recommends keeping your
expectations reasonable. "From a
financial standpoint, you can lower your
stress by doing comparative shopping on
the Internet," she explains. "That can
help you not only find the best prices
without running from store to store, it
can also save you time and gas money.
You also might start a new 'Secret
Santa' tradition at work or with your
family, drawing names from a hat and
buying a gift for one person, rather
than something for everyone. Some people
opt to make a donation to charity in
honor of people in their extended
families, rather than purchase gifts for
each other." When it comes to holiday
parties, Sharma again suggests
moderation. "You don't have to attend
every single party," she says. "Choose
the ones that are the most important to
you, and spend your holiday time with
people you enjoy. If your family and
friends are in the habit of hosting
multiple parties, consider trying to
combine some of the events." While
many people tend to reduce or stop their
exercise regimens during the busy
holidays, exercise is a great stress
reducer. "Exercise is also good therapy
for people who are anxious," says
Sharma. "It's also valuable for people
who are depressed, which is not uncommon
during the holidays. A good workout can
help you feel energized and more
relaxed, plus it will help you sleep
better." Maintain a Healthy Diet
Obviously, those tempting holiday
goodies can pose a challenge, but it's
not impossible to eat well during the
holidays. "You need to plan ahead for
when you know you are going to have a
'holiday splurge' in terms of eating,"
Mazzei counsels. "You simply can't
splurge every day without weight and
health consequences. It's also a good
idea to keep to a regular meal schedule
and not skip meals just because you're
going to a big party later in the day."
Mazzei suggests that if you are going to
a holiday party, you could offer to
bring wholesome, nutritious foods. "At
the party, the foods you eat don't all
have to be fat-free and low-calorie, but
you should choose carefully," she says.
"Most of the foods we eat during the
holidays, we actually could get any time
of the year," Mazzei adds. "Hershey's
Kisses aren't any more special just
because they're wrapped in red and green
tin foil. Save your appetite and calorie
count for something really special -
like your grandmother's traditional
holiday cake." People often believe
that alcohol may help lessen the stress
of the holiday season, but many studies
show that alcohol actually increases the
body's stress response. Plus, alcohol
can lower your resolve to avoid
overeating. "Don't drink alcohol on an
empty stomach, because it will go
straight to your head," Mazzei cautions.
"Don't let people pressure you into
consuming alcohol if you'd prefer not
to. You can always volunteer to be the
'designated driver' to discourage even
the most persistent bartender from
pouring you a drink. If you do indulge,
try alternating plain water or club soda
with alcoholic beverages." Sharma and
Mazzei both encourage people to take
time for themselves during the holidays.
Focus on the joys of families and
friends, rather than jumping into the
seasonal frenzy. Consider it your
holiday gift to yourself. |
