HCI Holiday Social

Helpful Holiday Tips!

We all know that the holidays can be the most joyous AND the most stressful time of the year. With family coming to visit, the kids being out of school, cooking for the family, and not to mention, the variety of leftover food to eat, there’s no wonder most people feel they don’t have time to exercise during the holidays. If you think you don’t have time, look at it this way, have you spent all year trying to lose weight and be healthy? Have you been successful? Now you are going to blow it all on a few days out of the entire year? Have you lost ten pounds to just to put it all back on?

Do you think you have time to exercise now?

Not only will exercise help with maintaining your healthy lifestyle, exercise will help to ease some of the holiday stress. So here are some ways to squeeze in exercise during the most hectic time of the year.

1. Add exercise to your shopping. Instead of fighting over a parking space, go ahead and park away from the entrance. Not only will you be able to giggle at all the other people partaking in parking lot road rage, but you will be able to add some extra steps to your day. Also, when you’re done shopping, take another lap! You may even find another gift that you missed the first time around.
2. Use your time wisely. You don’t have to have a total workout at one time. Ten minutes here, twenty minutes there, before you know it you’ve done your full workout throughout the day and didn’t miss a beat.
3. Get the family involved. It’s easier to exercise when you have company but for the holidays find something festive to do. Walking in the park, playing in the leaves, and when it snows, make snow angels, or even better - have a snowball fight!!! Even keeping an aerobics video handy will be fun. You and your family will burn the calories right off laughing at each other doing the workout.
4. Last but not least, don’t torture yourself over the holidays. Food is one of the most festive parts of the holidays and it’s only natural to want to eat everything in sight. However, remember your goals for the next year and the ones you already met this year. Write them down and keep them in your pocket if necessary. Keep in mind; the more you splurge the more you will have to exercise to keep the calorie output larger than calorie input.

So don’t stress this holiday about exercise. All you need to do is take regular activities and become a little more creative and remember, the HOLIDAYS are just a few days out of a long year!!

***If you need to plan ahead, check out the calorie counter on the left side. It will tell you nutrition information for food item or restaurant food***

For more information about Holiday Stress or about Healthy Lifestyles, contact Diane Sawyer at 276-956-2983 x 301.

Article by Sierra Hairston, HCI Staff/Hip Hop Instructor

Credit given to: http://www.quakeroatmeal.com/ for sighting some of their tips.

Belly Dancing

Instructor Eydie Clifton leading class.

Belly Dancing.... yes, Belly Dancing. The new aerobics class that has taken Martinsville and Henry County by storm. An average of 50 people show up every week, ready to dance the calories off!

So what is Belly Dancing you might ask? Belly Dancing has many different types and forms as most dancing and aerobics classes do. Our Belly Dancing class is for all sizes and shapes and mostly gets you moving to the music, from head to toe. There are particular moves that sway your body to the music, and it can be as simple or as challenging as you and the teacher want it to be.

There are many myths out there about Belly Dancing. Many believe that you need a special wardrobe or costume (you do not) or that you have to be coordinated when in fact, Belly Dancing is designed to improve and enhance your coordination. You do not have to be a certain size or shape. It is important to note that one night of Belly Dancing will not help you "lose your belly" or lose weight. One night of any kind of exercise will not make you lose weight. However, small changes towards a healthier lifestyle will. This could be your first step towards reaching those goals!

There are only two classes left this session, so come out and join before it's too late! Classes are held at Bassett Community Center on Monday nights at 6:30pm. For other aerobics classes and scheduling info click here.

Look at all these ladies having a great time and burning calories!!