Day 5: Keeping on Track During the Holidays

With the arrival of the holidays comes old family traditions. For most people, this will include lots of baking, lazing around, and big meals. The hours in a day get consumed by spending time with family and friends; finding time to exercise is often the last thing on your mind. So how do you avoid getting off track?

Here are some tricks for avoiding the post-holidays weight gain blues:

1. Holiday shopping. Although this may seem like a counter-intuitive concept, holiday shopping can be beneficial to exercising. Park your car in the farthest spot from the door that you feel comfortable with. The environment will thank you for not circling the lot 15 times to get that spot 20 feet closer to the door. Worried about having to carry your purchases? Think of it as weight-lifting! And make sure to bring reusable cloth bags which are more durable and environmentally friendly.

2. This one is going to seem ridiculous but give it a shot. When decorating your tree, try putting your box of ornaments down the hall or in another room. The walking back and forth will burn calories and give you a new vantage point of how your tree is coming along. You laugh now, but seriously, give it a try!

3. Make use of those fantastic outdoor winter sports. Skating, tobogganing, and snowshoeing are all great ways to enjoy yourself in the winter. It's easy to hibernate the winter away indoors under blankets, but once you give these activities a shot, you'll realize how good the fresh air and exercise feel. Getting your kids involved in these activities can be the start of a healthy lifestyle for the rest of their lives. Living in a climate like Winnipeg's means that you have to be willing to brave the cold to get the most out of your city. You'll soon acclimatize to the cold and find it invigorating rather than immobilizing. The holidays are usually a time when we get some time to spend with our families so spend some of those hours outdoors!

4. Lastly, try to stay calm by staying organized. The holidays often puts extra pressure on us, causing us to absentmindedly grab for whatever is nearest to eat. If you can anticipate some of what will stress you (last minute gift buying, big meal preparation, scouring the city for the toy your child has to have), and prepare early for whatever you can, you will feel more at ease during the holidays and more inclined to stay on track.

Day 4: To Spend or Not to Spend…

Once most people have convinced themselves that they’re going to start a new exercise routine, the obvious place to start is to purchase the necessary apparel. Gone are the days when exercise meant throwing on the rattiest thing you owned and headed outside for a jog. Nowadays, there is specific apparel for every sport. Is this necessary? And if so, how much money should you be spending?

Let’s consider outdoor running. If you’re running in the summer, the one item I’d recommend spending the most significant amount of money on is your shoes. The quality of your shorts and t-shirt matter much less. You can purchase Athletic Works running shorts for under ten dollars from Walmart, and equally inexpensive tops as well. The best shoes I’ve ever owned are the adi-zero running shoes by Adidas. They are among the lightest running shoes on the market. I found that they feel weight wise as though you’re wearing gauze on your feet, yet equal to the competitors in support. They are definitely worth the $150 price tag. Click to Go Directly to the Product's Website

For winter running, the most important equipment to spend the most money on is moisture-wicking clothing. High-end shoes are less important in some respects, because you will likely be running on a snow-covered service which is less jarring, and you will be forced to wear a heavy sock which will dampen the qualities of your shoe.

Good moisture-wicking clothes do not need to be expensive. Mountain Equipment Co-Op has some fantastic winter running gear at a mid-price range. My favourite is their MEC Merino Lightweight 2 Zip-T. This zip-up is the perfect base-layer. In –30 degree conditions, I can wear this with a thick jacket overtop and never feel chilled or overheated. They have a similar product for the legs. If this price ranger is a little steep for your budget (about $65 dollars each), other stores have less expensive alternatives. Walmart, Zellers, Old Navy etc. all carry their own lines of base-layers for a lesser amount. One word of caution, however, is that good moisture wicking clothes will be vital to your running experience. Talk to the people working at the store you choose and find out what they recommend. Although you may not think that you would perspire in the winter, you will be amazed at how quickly your body will heat up. Wearing improper gear will cause that moisture to be locked in your first layer and eventually you will get chilled. Gear for your head and hands should be made of a breathable material (like fleece) which can be layered with a nylon cover for added warmth.

And finally, don't stress about having all the perfect stuff right away. Go out for a jog with the gear you've got and see if there's anything which sticks out as a deterrent to your running. You'll quickly understand what you need to buy in order to turn your running experiment into a success. Good luck!