The Healthy Holiday Shopping Workout

A few simple moves can turn your last-minute shopping into a first-rate workout.

ByABC News
December 18, 2007, 1:36 PM

Dec. 18, 2007— -- 'Tis the season for cookies, cakes ... and cardio.

The holidays are a time of celebration, and my how we celebrate! We eat, we drink ... and then we feel too guilty to work out.

By mid-December, there's been at least one office holiday party. That means 150 calories per beer, 80 calories per glass of red wine and about 400 calories for the chips and dips. And you can't forget the turkey; 133 calories for a small portion of white meat, 160 for dark meat and stuffing -- up to 400 calories. If you slather it in gravy, add 300 calories.

There's grandma's mince pie at 320 calories and a giant mug of eggnog, another 400 calories. Oh, and don't forget the candy canes at 60 calories each.

Most of us know when to stop eating when we're at home; if we're really hungry or really full, our body tells us. But when we're at a buffet or a party, most people continue to eat as long as other people are doing the same. And while we all have good intentions during holiday time, it seems our system of measuring how much we eat is based on not visibly exceeding what the rest of the group is eating.

Because the season of giving is also a season of eating, it's important to maintain physical activity during this time. It's tempting to ditch workouts as the days fill up with holiday preparations, but now more than ever, you need to keep your body moving to burn off the extra calories.

Exercise will help you deal with added stress and give you energy for everything you need to accomplish. It will also help keep you in great spirits and in a cheerful mood from the heightened levels of endorphins released in the blood stream during and after exercise.

More important, it will also help you avoid the "yuletide Five" -- the 5 pounds everyone seems to gain between Christmas and New Year's.

If it seems as if your best efforts to exercise and eat healthy are sabotaged by holiday parties and gatherings with family and friends, have no fear. You can counter your calorie intake by doing your holiday shopping!