Many seniors make New Year's resolutions to diet and exercise more because they have overeaten and ignored exercise during the holidays. But if you maintain a healthy lifestyle during the holiday season, you may not need to make resolutions that are hard to keep.
1. Exercise every day.
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.2. Combine shopping and walking.
If the weather prevents you from walking outdoors, combine a holiday 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 an entrance on the opposite end of the mall -- even if time is short, you will still get some exercise.
3. Remember to take your medications.
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 bring 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.
4. Eat your vegetables and salad first.
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.
5. Be aware of drug interactions.
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.
6. Know your food ingredients.
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.
7. Practice allergy-free decorating.
If you suffer from allergic rhinitis, the culprit may be your holiday 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, as many people are allergic to real trees. The newer trees are very lifelike and safer (they don't dry out and become fire hazards).
8. Get a flu shot.
The holiday season 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 these holiday invitations until you are well. You don't want to make others ill. Be sure to talk to your doctor about any special concerns regarding the flu shot.
