Eclectic Shades Magazine October Issue 2017 | Page 58

Doing the Holiday Hustle

By: Amy E Lawrence, MFA, ACSM

Another October, another Halloween. It's officially the kickoff for binging freely throughout the holidays. There is nothing wrong with the occasional sweet or two, but generally, people let it slide during this time until the New Year.

This year, I decided to quantify both the caloric intake of certain holiday foods, as well as the number of minutes required to “burn off” the “treat” that starts to spook you throughout the final months of the year. I just couldn’t resist the temptation when I read it takes 120 minutes straight of jumping rope (2 hours) after consuming a whole grain bagel with 2oz of cream cheese. That’s a lot of bouncing for a single baked good.

When keeping your nutrition in check, especially throughout the holiday season, I always keep it simple. One pound of body fat =3,500 calories. There are seven days in one week. If I perform 20 minutes of activity, any activity that will burn 250 calories, and consume 250 calories less than I “normally” do, this equates to a 500-calorie deficit each day. Now multiply those 500 calories by seven days a week, and magically, the total is 3,500. Granted it can work in the opposite direction.

Consume 250 calories a day more than you normally would, and skip out on a quick 20-minute calorie blasting session, and you will accumulate 3,500 calories rapidly.

Check out the chart below, and you’ll get the idea. The goal is not to “spook” you, rather, raise your awareness. Also, you will be on “high alert” when the in-laws come to town, and you might be inspired to take a jog for an hour (or ten).

*All calculations are based on a 150-lb. individual and are approximations

*Source: www.sparkpeople.com