Keeping Healthy Over The Holidays

With end-of-year celebrations now in full swing, where every weekend seems to have a Christmas party or family gathering, it can be hard to keep on top of your health! The good thing is, you can have your cake and eat it too with some simple strategies to keep you active these holidays.

How much exercise do I need?

The recommended amount of exercise for an adult in Australia is 150 minutes per week of aerobic exercise and 2 strength training sessions per week. Unfortunately, only 50% of adults achieve this each week. Utilise some of the tips below to start moving more today!

Tips to stay active and healthy during the holiday season

1. Break up your aerobic exercise into manageable chunks. 150 minutes per week is usually split into 30 minutes per day spread over 5 days of the week. If 30 minutes is too much of a time commitment, why not try 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening? Now that it is warmer, it can be a good way to bookend your day.
2. Focus on getting your “movement snacks”. Being as active as you can be throughout the day can be a good way to stay healthy during these busier times. Movement snacks, if done consistently, can end up being just as influential as structured exercise. Examples include parking further away at the shops, walking instead of driving for small trips, and taking the stairs or walking up an escalator.
3. Keep up other “Self-Care” health behaviours. While our healthy eating might be going out the window over the next few weeks, we can choose to still prioritise other health behaviours. These include drinking plenty of water (aiming for at least 2 litres per day), getting sufficient sleep (7-9 hours per night for most people), and continuing to include fruit and vegetables as much as possible into your diet.

For more advice specific to your condition, contact us today to book an appointment with an Exercise Physiologist at Solutions Allied Health.

Stay tuned for our blog post on how to achieve your new year’s resolutions with the help of Solutions.