REV UP…WIND DOWN KEYS FOR SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS

Fitness Magazine Deputy Editor Offers Innovative and Effective Ways to Avoid Wrecking Your Routine and Making a Harried Season More Enjoyable

The holidays are a time of togetherness and cheer. They are also a time of overeating and over-scheduling.  But don’t let stress destroy the goodwill of the season.  Find innovative, inexpensive and effective ways to stay active, eat well, and relax.

Mary Anderson, Deputy Editor of FITNESS Magazine says that surviving the holidays isn’t about avoiding your favorite seasonal treats, but indulging in moderation – instead of deprivation – and giving yourself permission to relax and do something for yourself.  Her are some of her tips to surviving the holidays:

In this time of sweet treats and little indulgences at holiday parties, the best way to make sure that you stay on track is to start your day off with a healthy breakfast. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines say that “more than 95 percent of Americans don’t get the recommended daily amount of whole grain of at least 48 grams, so I recommend eating a whole-grain cereal for breakfast.  In conjunction with a healthy lifestyle, a diet rich in whole grains has been linked to a healthier body weight, and it may help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.

Diet and exercise go hand in hand and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise for American adults. During the holiday season however, it can be difficult to find 150 minutes a week to do anything. Having workout options at home is a great way to incorporate exercise into your day. Kinect for Xbox 360 makes it easy to get fit in the comfort of your own living room. With games like “Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2012”  you can exercise your way with a customizable, social and fun workout experience with over 90 hours of activities like Zen classes, Latin dance and boot camps. Get the whole family off the couch and moving while having a great time together this holiday with "Kinect Sports: Season Two" and "Dance Central 2," which will get your heart pumping and you’ll break a sweat without even realizing you're exercising. If you already own an Xbox 360 you can buy the standalone Kinect sensor with a game for $149.99, or you can purchase the Xbox 360 250GB Kinect Holiday Bundle for $399.99 that includes the console, Kinect and two games. To learn more visit www.xbox.com

You also want to make sure you look and feel good when you’re working out.  Champion makes the most comfortable workout apparel and their new Champion SHAPE T Back Sports Bra and Champion SHAPE Pants are designed to make women feel and look good as they work out this season. The bra is super supportive and very flattering, and the pants have a “power mesh” panels, which sculpt your hips, thighs, and tummy.  Plus the fabric actually wicks moisture, which is great when you’re working out in colder temperatures. You can find more information about this and other Champion bras on the brand’s Facebook page.  It’s an informative and welcoming forum for women to connect and share information at http://www.ChampionUSA.com/,  www.Facebook.com/Champion. They’re available at sporting good stores everywhere and at www.ChampionUSA.com

At FITNESS Magazine we believe that surviving the holidays isn’t about avoiding your favorite seasonal treats, but indulging in moderation instead of deprivation,  and giving yourself permission to relax and do something for yourself. Doctors recommend getting about one hour of relaxation each day to relieve stress so you really want to schedule in down time, especially during the holidays. For many of us that means setting boundaries so you don’t over-extend yourself which might be hard at first, but the health benefits of relaxation will go way beyond just feeling rested.  You’ll have more energy to care for yourself and your family, plus you’ll be able to really enjoy the holiday season instead of running around stressed out. For more tips on surviving the holidays and staying fit this winter, check out the current issue of Fitness Magazine on stands now or go to www.FitnessMagazine.com

ABOUT THE TALENT: Mary Anderson is Deputy Editor of FITNESS Magazine where she oversees all fitness articles and collaborates with top trainers to create the exclusive exercise routines that run in the magazine. Anderson has 12 years of experience in the fitness field. Prior to joining FITNESS, she was senior fitness editor at Self magazine; she also worked at Conde Nast Sports for Women, helping to launch the publication. In addition, she created and served as editor in chief of the health and fitness website GymAmerica.com, which was voted Best of Web by Forbes.com.  She has written fitness feature stories for such publications as Men’s Health, Glamour and InStyle and has appeared on numerous TV shows, including Today, Entertainment Tonight and VH1’s 100 Most Wanted Bodies.