Many seniors make new years Resolutions to diet and exercise more because they have overeaten and ignored exercise during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. If you maintain a healthy lifestyle during the holidays you may not need to make resolutions that are hard to keep.
Get out of the house for a walk to view the Christmas lights and decorations in the evening. Be sure to dress for the weather and take along a flashlight to illuminate your path. Be very careful in areas that are prone to freezing to avoid falls.
If the weather prevents walking outdoors combine a Christmas shopping trip with your exercise. Indoor malls are great places to walk and many have walking clubs. Check with the mall management to see what they offer. Get there early before the crowds get too heavy. If you are planning on shopping in a particular store, park near and entrance on the opposite end of the mall - even if time is short you will still get some exercise.
Holidays often disrupt routines and may cause you to forget your life-saving medications. As you note social appointments add a reminder to take your medications or order re-fills. If you are traveling be sure to take enough medications with you in case of delays and have a copy of your prescriptions in case of loss. Be sure to take along a phone number for your doctor along with your health insurance cards, in case of emergency. Carry your medications in your carry-on luggage if you are flying.
If you are at a party with a lot of tempting food, try to start with healthy vegetables and salads. These will fill you up and reduce the temptation to over-indulge on high fat, high calorie foods. Just a taste of your holiday favorites should satisfy your taste buds.
Some foods react with medications, decreasing or increasing the effect with sometimes dangerous results. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about your medications and find out if there are any foods you should avoid while taking them. "Often used holiday spices like cloves, thyme and sage can interfere by as much as 50 percent with the body's natural ability to utilize common drugs," says Dr. Amy Anderson, internal medicine physician on the medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center.
If you have food allergies don't be afraid to ask about ingredients in dishes made by others. Be especially careful of home baked goods if you have an allergy to tree nuts or peanuts. Those ingredients may not be obvious at first sight but can be deadly if you are affected by these types of allergies.
If you suffer from allergic rhinitis the culprit may be your Christmas decorations. Decorations stored away all year can build up a coating of dust that can trigger allergies. Frequent dusting while they are up may help. You may also need to rethink Christmas tradition and substitute an artificial tree. Many people are allergic to real trees. The newer trees are very lifelike and safer (they don't dry out and become fire hazards).
Thanksgiving and Christmas usually means you will be in close contact with many different people, putting you at higher risk of of contracting colds and flu. Getting a yearly flu shot is your best defense for avoiding the flu. If you are sick with a cold or flu, pass on thoese holiday invitations until you are well. You don't wnat to make others ill.
Holiday celebrations can often disrupt regular sleep patterns. Try to get to sleep at the same time every night and avoid heavy foods and alcoholic beverages before bedtime. Take a nap if you feel the need during the day to help recharge your energy.
