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Living Well In Yalobusha County

Tips To Keep From ‘Bursting’ With Holiday Joy

By Pamela Redwine


I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and I hope you will have a very safe and prosperous New Year.  Remember, the Extension Service is closed for the Christmas holidays. We will reopen at 8 a.m. on  Friday, January 4.  The Healthy You Exercise Classes will resume on Monday, January 7 at 9 a.m.
Our staff is enjoying our Christmas break and using it to rest and spend time with our families.  We are excited for January and 2013 to get here.  We have many new ideas for programs in 2013. If you have ideas for programs please don’t hesitate to let us know.  Also, If you are currently not using the Extension Service I hope you will make it your New Year’s Resolution to give us a try this year.
I forgot to mention this in my last week’s article, but I would like to say a special “Thank you” to everyone who supported the MHV Raffle of the Oil Landscape Canvas Painting by Mrs. Jo Davis.  We drew the name of the winner on Tuesday, December 11, Sharon Kennedy of Louisville.  
Mrs. Kennedy is an office associate for the Winston County MSU-ES and was thrilled to learn that she won. You can see a picture of Mrs. Kennedy with her new painting in our January Newsletter or on our Facebook page – MSU-Yalobusha County Extension Service.

Nine Tips for Staying Active Over the Winter Holidays
We typically eat more and exercise less during the holidays. If we get too much out of balance with our food intake and our activity output, we may literally be “bursting” with holiday cheer! To help prevent our winter holiday season from coming “apart at the seams,” here are 9 tips to fit in some physical activity.
1. It’s a “shoe-in.” As much as you can, wear running or comfortable walking shoes so you can get moving whenever there’s an opportunity. Pop a casserole in the oven and head out the door for a walk or jog while it’s baking. Park farther away and walk to your destination.
2. Take the stairs. “In one minute, a 150 pound person burns approximately 10 calories walking upstairs and only 1.5 calories riding an elevator,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1).     3. Work out with your mobile device. Download an app(s) or video(s) for your mobile device (iPad, iPhone, etc.) or watch an online video that will help you get moving.
4. Find trails and tracks before you travel.
5. Try some tempting tunes. If you like to work out to music, “gift” yourself with some new tunes to get motivated.
6. Clean your house. Set aside several hours one day and REALLY clean your house. Bending, squatting, running up and down stairs, standing while folding and putting away laundry, etc. all burn calories. Get workouts the old-fashioned way … by “working” out!
7. Look for a holiday fun run. Fun runs are often held over the holidays. There is usually a small fee and they’re open to everyone from runners to people who meander along the trail with friends. They are usually 5K runs (3.1 miles).

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