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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2006
Fabian Lewkowicz fabianl@smdp.com
CRUNCH TIME: Personal Trainer Sean Neff, from Body Inspired Fitness, puts 14-year-old Harry Binzack through sit-up drills on Wednesday at Clover Park.
Eating in moderation is key to healthy look KEEPING FIT, from page 1
American] around the holidays,” said Rob Jewett, a personal trainer and managing director of Absolute Fitness in Florida. One of the biggest culprits is the seasonally beloved eggnog, which consists of about 350 calories per serving. “If you stay in the mode of consumption, it’s not unrealistic to gain 20-25 pounds [in the months after Christmas],” Jewett said on Wednesday. Because of the heightened level of stress during the holidays, whether it’s because of worries over family entertaining obligations or fear of maxing out the credit cards, heart attacks also increase this time of year, Jewett said. The rich foods and lack of time to exercise make it an even more important time for people to try and add in extracurricular activities when possible. “Stress can create a response and one of those is to go to comfort foods,” said Philip Haberstro, executive director of the National Association for Health and Fitness in upstate New York. Weather can also affect whether a person is more likely to work out. Haberstro resides in upstate New York, where Mother Nature can be somewhat cruel. “People in the northern states may be less physically active,” Haberstro said on Wednesday. “The weather may affect me more than people in Santa Monica.” With New Year’s Day just a few weeks away, the holidays serve as a busy time for fitness clubs, but not in terms of the volume of workout by members. “People do sign up, but don’t normally come in until after the first of the year,” said Marcy Vinson on Wednesday. Vinson is a trainer at Curves on Broadway, a women’s fitness center. Hunter, a single mom who lives in Calabasas, but exercises three times a week at the “stairs,” which is near her work, tries to balance holiday consumption with extra workouts. But it does get harder to keep up with her workout regimen around the holidays, when gift shopping consumes her time. Scott Hopkins of Santa Monica, a regular fitness buff throughout the year, said he watches what he eats around the holidays.
That doesn’t mean Hopkins hasn’t slipped on occasion. “I might feel bloated a couple of days,” he said on Wednesday.
“Don’t drink excessively. Don’t eat dessert excessively. MARCY VINSON FITNESS TRAINER, CURVES
Tips on staying fit Though it may seem hard at times, one can stay fit during the holidays with a lot of willpower and a good solid exercise plan, experts say. Exercise whenever there is an opportunity. This can come in the form of walking around the house, or even at the mall. “Most people have 10 minutes somewhere in the day that they can do something,” Jewett said. “Walk up and down the stairs. Even grab a gallon of milk or water and do biceps curls.” It might seem counterintuitive since overeating coupled with inactivity leads to weight gain, but it is important to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner because by skipping a meal, you’re slowing down the metabolism, Jewett said. He suggests even adding in a couple of snacks between the meals. Moderation is the key, Vinson said. Rather than eating the entire pumpkin pie, settle for a slice. “Holiday food items are not exactly the most nutritional,” Vinson said. “Don’t drink excessively. Don’t eat dessert excessively.” Find workout opportunities in family activities, Haberstro suggests. Go caroling around the neighborhood or take a walk around the block with relatives instead of sitting around the fire chatting over a cup of eggnog. “It’s a good balance of personal responsibility with the support of a community,” Haberstro said. melodyh@smdp.com
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