Menopause Tips – How to Thrive in the Holidays, #9 DON’T GIVE UP EXERCISE

In this season of stress (and often, over-eating), remember, don’t give up exercise!  Keeping your life under control while experiencing poor sleep, memory problems, hot flashes, fatigue, mood swings, and other unpleasant menopause challenges is hard enough. Add to that the stress and “must dos” of the Holiday season and you may want to get under the bed and resurface on December 26^th, or go on a vacation by yourself.

I’ve been there! But I’ve learned some useful strategies not only to survive but also to thrive and enjoy the holidays that I want to share with you:

Menopause Tips – How to Thrive in the Holidays

 

#9 DON’T GIVE UP EXERCISE (chewing doesn’t count as exercise)

With so much to do it may seem easy and OK to eliminate your workouts in the weeks before the holidays. Don’t do it. Even if your New Year’s resolution is to work out three times a week in 2020, don’t give up exercise in 2019.

Five reasons why you don’t want to give up exercise:

1.Exercise makes you happier and healthier to endure the holiday demands.

2.Exercise keeps you from putting on weight.

You’ll eat more during the festive season, so to avoid gaining weight you must burn those extra calories.

3.Exercise is good for your brain.

Exercise increases blood circulation to your brain making your thinking sharper (less menopause brain fog).

4.Exercise improves sleep.

Many women in menopause complain of poor sleep. Exercising improves sleep.

5.Exercise releases endorphins, brain transmitters that boost mental health.

That’s why exercise makes you feel good, energized, and more alert; and it may even help you tolerate your annoying guests better! You can read more about “8 Ways Walking Changes Your Brain For The Better, According To Science”, here.

If your excuse is that there’s too much to do and you don’t have time to exercise, cut out something less important from your To Do List – read more on #1 MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER DURING THE HOLIDAYS (and afterwards).

Exercise = health. Nothing this holiday is more important than your health and the health of your loved ones.

You have choices, chose what’s best for you – good nutrition and movement!

Go for walks outside as often as you can. It’s good for your body especially if you walk after meals (which burns calories and decreases weight gain).

Walk after your holiday meal and catch up on each other’s lives while walking.

How often do you get the chance to talk with your son or daughter and burn calories at the same time?

There’s an added bonus for those living in cold weather – your body has to work harder to keep its temperature up, burning calories more quickly!

Don’t think of exercise as a chore, think of it as an investment in your health now and in the future!  Over the holidays, don’t give up exercise!

 

If you missed the earlier tips (or just want to read them again), you can find them on my blog: