In this newsletter . . .

Merry Christmas
and
Happy Holidays
To All

We all read articles and listen to advice on ways to enjoy the season while not overeating. And it can be done. Sure it requires a little will power. But managing food intake now is a much better policy than throwing caution to the wind, adding unwanted pounds, and then promising ourselves we’ll do better next year. Many times unwelcome fat becomes a permanent fixture.

Too often regular exercise gets put on the back-burner. It seems like there aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything, with "adventures" at the shopping mall and trips here and there to visit friends and relatives. Sometimes you just can’t fit everything in.

Here’s my advice. Don’t ignore your workouts entirely. If you are well organized enough to follow your regular routine in spite of the hustle and bustle of holiday activities, great. But if you cannot devote the normal amount of time for your workouts, abbreviate your training. For example, three short 10-minute segments a day of physical activity is easy to fit into even the busiest schedule. Don’t discount those 10-minute efforts as not being worthwhile. They pay off.

Also take a few minutes here and there to sit quietly to do some relaxed deep breathing to relieve tension and calm your mind. It's a great habit to get into anytime, and particularly at times when stress is building up.

Such seemingly small things as portion-control eating and short exercise and relaxation breaks really can make a difference. You won’t be looking in the mirror on January 1st and saying, “Yuk! I’ve gained ten pounds and haven’t worked out in weeks.” Instead, be just a little bit smug (but keep it to yourself) in the knowledge that you had self-control and still had a good time.

What's the saying? Half a loaf is better than none at all. Here are a couple of example combinations that will give your body a good little workout in a brief period . . .

• Alternate Dive Bomber Push-Ups with Bulgarian Split Squats and Horizontal Pull-Ups . . . or

• If you have a set of dumbbells handy, try alternating the Clean and Press with Mountain Climbers and One Arm Rows.

Discover other quick ideas for three movement combos at Exercise Demonstrations or bodyweight exercises here.

Work them into 10-minute segments, with rest between sets according to need; follow up with a little relaxed deep breathing, and, like magic, you’ll maintain muscle tone, a calm demeanor and fitness through the busy holidays.

Let's meet here again on January 1, 2015.

Your comments and questions are always appreciated. Simply click on the "Reply" bottom.

Sincerely,

Logan Franklin
The Gray Iron Fitness Newsletter
www.senior-exercise-central.com