NEWS Release

GREENSBORO — Worried about that 1-5 pound weight gain over the holidays? Adding weight loss to that already long list of New Year's resolutions? Forget it. It's best to maintain your weight year-round not just around the holidays, said two professors of Exercise and Sport Science at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

With the holidays upon us, Dr. Laurie Wideman and Nancy Stoudemire, M.Ed., suggest some things you can do to maintain your weight and still grab that extra piece of turkey or pie. But before attempting any diet and exercise program, the experts suggest you consult with your physician.

"It sometimes difficult for people to realize holidays are only four weeks of the year," Wideman said. "It's the other 48 weeks that really count when you're attempting to lose weight or maintain your current weight."

Wideman suggests increasing your physical activity year round by starting out slow and working up to 30-40 minutes of exercise at least 3-4 days a week, not just around or immediately following the holidays.

"In order to maintain long-term weight loss, exercise needs to be incorporated into your daily activities, eventually working up to adding weight resistance for shaping," Wideman said.
Neither woman suggests dieting during the holidays. Instead they suggest eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly.

"You have to change you're habits all together," said Wideman. "If you eat too much one day, don’t give up. Just continue to exercise and eat right the following day. It's eating too much over and over that cause problems. "

Wideman adds there are important questions to ask yourself during an attempt to lose weight and/or establish and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
- Am I ready to change my lifestyle?
- Am I willing to accept that I'm going to lose 1-2 pounds per week, which may take longer to reach my goal? and;
- Am I doing this for myself or for someone else?

"These are important questions to ask before you start the process or you may set
yourself up for failure," Wideman said.
The women suggest a few small things to do during the hustle and the bustle of the holidays when time is factor:

•  While shopping, park further away from your shopping destination
• Take the stairs rather than an escalator or elevator
•  Walk into restaurants instead of using drive-thrus
•  Walk around your home or move around while talking on the phone
•  March in place while watching television
•  As part of a family outing, choose recreational activities that are physical

And make sure you set a realistic goal for yourself, Stoudemire said. "Exercise is easy to start, but harder to maintain," Stoudemire said. "If you can stick with it for three months, it tends to become a routine."
Stoudemire and Wideman highly recommend getting children involved in physical activities.

"Children model their behavior after their parents, so children will remember walking after dinner, exercise, etc.," Wideman said. "If you get them up and doing something, that helps them to get active and remain active through adulthood."
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