Guest Post from Barbie Brooks

This month, we're honored to have Barbie Brooks writing for our blog. Barbie offers some ways to stay healthy this holiday season and gives you a jump start on your New Year's resolutions.

Seasons Greetings!

When I think about the holidays, two things come to mind: Stress and Excess. One leads to the other. To relieve stress, most people end up eating too many so-called "comfort" foods and drinking too much alcohol. Both of these methods do not eliminate stress, but cause more!

The way to combat stress and excess is actually very simple: Eat right and exercise... The only problem with this "simple" statement is that most people don't know what is healthy. I mean, did you know corn isn't a vegetable, but a grain? Tricky marketing makes you think you're eating more vegetables than you are. Plus, with so many studies coming out contradicting the last healthy study you read, it's hard to know what to believe and who to trust.

With that being said, I say simply this: Use your head. Do what you know.

We know protein is necessary to repair and build muscle as well as maintaining normal blood sugar levels (which help you to avoid the junk food cravings). We know complex carbohydrates are necessary to give you energy, ensure proper brain functions, and the fiber will help your insides running smoothly and able to better absorb nutrients into your system.

What are "good" complex carbohydrates? Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and potatoes are a good place to start. Just keep them in their natural state as much as possible. What are some good protein choices? Egg whites, lean cuts of beef, chicken, fish, and low fat dairy, like whey protein isolate. I recommend whey protein over soy protein due to research indicating the increased estrogen levels associated with eating soy products (especially in men). If we want to build lean muscle and burn fat, we do not want our estrogen levels to go up! A high quality whey protein (like that found in Better Whey yogurt) can help repair your muscles giving you that toned, defined look, and keep your hunger levels down. This will help you avoid the holiday sweets and festive cocktails. Imagine yourself actually losing weight during the holidays~ That is so much better than grandma's pound cake!

To deal with holiday stress, make a little time in your day to clear your head- even 20 minutes can make a huge difference in your mind and body. When you do your cardio exercise, you may want to eat a little protein and carbohydrate about an hour beforehand. When you strength train, you want to eat protein with a little carbohydrate within 2 hours after working out. How much protein depends on your size, sex, and goals, but getting at least 15g is greatly beneficial post-workout.

So readers, I challenge you this holiday season to take more time for you. Think about yourself, your goals, what you're eating and what exercise you can do that's fun and makes you sweat. New Year's resolutions can begin today! Every day, every meal, every step will bring you closer to becoming the person you were always meant to be!

In Health,

Barbie Brooks

Note: Barbie is a Personal Trainer at a premier Chicago Health Club, FFC Halsted Street.

E-mail: BBrooks@ffc.com

Website: http://www.fitnessformulaclubs.com/