With the holidays fast approaching, it’s all too easy to get caught up in hustle and bustle and send your stress level through the roof, and your health plummeting. Make this year different with the following 5 healthy tips for a less stressful holiday.
Give Gifts that Mean More and Cost Less. Trying to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list can add unnecessary pressure. Try to remember the reason for the season and make your gift reflect that original simplicity. Giving something hand-made if you’re the crafty type, or a bound book of photographs from shared experiences during the year are great ideas.
A calendar with pictures of happy times for each month of the new year, or home-made goodies from your kitchen (giving you an opportunity to share the gift giving process with others in the family) are all ideas that will save you money and time. These types of personalized gift probably will mean more to the recipient than something off the shelf in a store.
Set Reasonable Goals. Be careful not to over extend yourself. Choose only those activities that you look forward to and decline invitations for the rest. It’s easier to do than you think. This year rather than committing to volunteering for 10 activities over a 3 week period choose several that are most important to you, do them well, and you’ll be able to relax and enjoy the difference that you’re making by volunteering.
Do something nice for you each day. Make an appointment for yourself on your calendar and keep it. It can be as simple as reading a book with a cup of tea for 30 minutes, or taking a walk with your dog, or chatting with a friend on the phone, or scrap booking. This keeps gives you permission to take time to rejuvenate and energize daily which will keep your stress levels low and your enthusiasm high.
Stay Healthy. Stress weakens the immune system. And a weakened immune system means that your body is less able to fight off germs and viruses that can develop into colds, flu, and respiratory congestion that exacerbate other chronic conditions such as allergy and asthma. Continue to eat well, stay hydrated, keep exercising and most importantly make sure you are well rested.
Maintain Healthy Indoor Air Quality Most of us are probably indoors more during the holidays than at any other time during the year. And with the holidays come dusty decorations that have been stored since last year, mold from live trees and garland, guests wearing various fragrances, smoke from the fireplace or wood burning stoves, and fragrances from scented candles. You can sometimes feel out of control as countless airborne pollutants are introduced into your air daily.
Constantly filtering your air with a high efficiency particle arresting (HEPA) air purifier will remove airborne particles and odors thus becoming your partner in good health. Cleaner air will keep you feeling your best during the holidays and throughout the year.
Give yourself the best chance for happy holidays by staying in control of airborne pollutants including bacteria and viruses. See the air purifier that will work for you at
Australia is a romantic country in itself where you can feel that love is in the air because of having some endearing getaways within its boundaries. In fact, it has garnered a reputation as one of the world’s most romantic countries because of its mesmerizing cities that offer several sightseeing options and activities perfect for lovers particularly with those people who are celebrating engagements, anniversaries and Valentine’s Day. This Land of Oz is also often considered as top spot for honeymoon destination by most newly-wed couples who want to have a romantic holiday vacation and spend some quality time with just the two of them.
Australia’s timeless beauty and perfect climate throughout the year attract more lovers to choose this country as their top choice for their romantic holiday destination. With its splendid tourists spots and having lots of romantic activities to do like taking a plunge in its pristine beaches or just stroll hand in hand and relax along its shores where both can experience to see and be mesmerized with its great sunset.
Australia also has a number of remarkable options to enjoy a romantic meal together. It has plenty of cafes and restaurants which are famous for its love of wine and great cuisines best to unleash the romantic ambiance. Apart from that, it also has some of the most beautiful sightseeing options in the world including the Ayers Rock, popularly known as Uluru and the famous “Great Barrier Reef”, a perfect place for adventure lovers and sight seers. Its exquisite architectures and famous historical landmarks such as Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge are also ideal romantic places for lovers to sweep their object of affection.
Spending vacation in Australia would also be incomplete without discovering its famous romantic festivals, shows and events. One of them is Blue Mountains Fine Food Festival, a popular event intended for lovers of great food and wine. It has a collection of 30 stalls to choose from which features the inspired dishes of some wonderful Blue Mountains restaurants and great wines from the greater region. For music and art lovers, Blue Mountains Folk Music Festival and The Perth International Arts Festival are some of its best festivals that offer great show which features famous artist from all over the world.
To sum it up, taking a trip to Australia is truly worth spending your money. It’s a lover’s paradise that has more sights to please your eyes, great events and festivals to take part in, excellent food and wine to convince your taste buds and a lot more. This lovely place will sure to cheer up your spirits and make you feel that your Australian vacation with your loved one will be the most memorable time in your life. So if you are thinking of having a romantic vacation down under, then it’s a must to secure an Australian Holiday Visa or an ETA visa which will be your passport to travel around Australia.
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Romantic moments make our life more happy and cheerful. Every couple in this world loves to enjoy some romantic moments to celebrate their love relationship in different ways. Romantic holiday is one of the best & popular ways. But sometimes career paths and personal lifestyles do not always allow for a weeklong vacation from the norm. If you’re planning a honeymoon, romantic weekend, romantic break, romantic holiday for two or romantic getaway, you’ve come to the right place as provides you the information about romantic holidays, romantic vacations and brings you the romantic collection which gives you the most memorable venue for your special occasions.
Have you got time off together in November? Need ideas for that romantic getaway? Romaticusaholidays.comgives you some romantic tips and romantic date ideas,romantic holiday spots which will cut down on the travel stress. You will get some romantic ideas like to gift romantic gift baskets, romantic holiday cards, and romantic movies to your partner to make some memorable moments. From walking hand-in-hand on an idyllic beach, to finding the perfect cozy restaurant for two, romantic vacationsor romantic holiday breaks are a great way to get to know each other better, or even fall in love all over again. There are lots of romantic holiday placesand destinationsto far-flung lands which are increasingly popular, and many exotic locations are now much more accessible than before. Romaticusaholidays.comprovides you the information about various romantic holiday spots abroad, romantic holiday packages, cheap romantic holiday, holiday inn express and much more.Romantic holidays in UK, Romantic holidays in Paris, will make your sweetheart feel special. For the perfect romantic winter holiday, bunker down with the one you love, the spoils of exploring the local cellar doors, some sumptuous local produce, and place yourself in front of a crackling log fire. USA holidays can be secular, religious, international or uniquely American. Luxury can mean resorts, day spas, bath treatments, vintage wines, gourmet foods. Luxury winter holiday vacations, when done right, provide memories to last well beyond the New Year. Peaceful tranquility combined with a stylish, intimate ambience is the perfect hideaway for couples. Three stylish and spacious farm holiday cottages offering superb hospitality and magnificent views. Enjoy your romantic holiday weekend with your partner in self contained romantic holiday cottages in UK, guesthouses, romantic accommodations and hotels, great camping and caravanning, and farm stays. Enjoy different food cuisines and lavish food to make special occasion. Some places will give you the nature beauties and scenery treasures to relax your mind and body. Asian countries will be the best places to enjoy the nature on romantic holidays. Whether it’s a romantic Caribbean Island, exotic Thailand Beaches, lovely sceneries of Switzerland, romaticusaholidays.comwill guide you through every pros and cons of the most romantic destinations around the world. Romaticusaholidays.com tries to compile the best of special interest romantic holidays information available with our experts to make your romance trip a very special trip.
So plan such romantic gateway or a romantic weekend to celebrate your love with your partner & bring some joy in your life. As these moments make our life beautiful and they give meaning to our life.
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Breast implant surgery in India can be combined with a refreshing holiday in Goa and experiencing the rich natural and cultural and historical facets of India. India offers at its own doorstep, a range of world quality hospitals and treatments at a fraction of world costs with comparable success rates and service levels directly in proportion to the high value system and natural caring that comes with its millennia heritage. Hospitals providing affordable breast implant surgery in India are known internationally for standards of health care delivery, comparable to the best in the world.
Breast implant surgery is a surgical procedure for enlarging, or augmenting, the breast and is usually performed to make normal breasts larger for cosmetic purposes. Generally breast implant surgery are of two types, saline filled and silicone gel-filled breast implants. In saline filled implants procedure the implants are made of an elastomer silicone envelope, which is surgically implanted under the tissues, and then filled with sterile saline, a salt-water solution, through a valve. In silicone gel-filled breast implant procedure the implants are made of an elastomer envelope pre-filled (prior to surgery) with a clear, sticky, thick jellylike form of silicone that approximates the consistency of breast tissue. Silicone gel implants come in many sizes. The size used depends on the amount of augmentation desired or the size the reconstructed breast is to be. Each type of breast implant is filled with a different material. Saline-filled breast implants consist of a silicone shell that’s either pre-filled with saline or filled with saline at the time of implant surgery. Silicone gel implants also consist of a silicone outer shell, but they’re filled with a silicone gel rather than saline.
Hospitals providing breast implant surgery in India has the technology and the skilled super specialists coupled with sound infrastructure and professional management, nurses and paramedical staff to provide best facilities for patients and creating personalized care you may require while you are here in Goa for medical tourism trip.Medical tourism India offers, affordable procedure costs at world class hospitals, experienced doctors, English speaking staff, beaches with crystal blue water, lush green landscapes, variety of food and mild tropical weather.Medical Tourism combines wellness and healthcare alongside leisure and relaxation aimed at rejuvenating a person; mentally, physically and emotionally. It revolves around the idea of drawing you away from your daily routine to a relaxed surrounding in an exotic location. To get more info on affordable breast implant surgery in India visit us at or you can send us your queries at IOHenquiry@gmail.com else at http://www.indianoverseashealthcare.com/yourquery.htm .
When it comes to holiday eating at social events, the choices can be overwhelming. Most holiday foods are laden with fat and calories that might railroad your healthy eating plan. If you do not have a plan, it is easy to overindulge. The good news is that with some preparation you could stick with your weight loss regimen and even treat yourself to a few desserts without packing on the pounds this year! Top Tips 1. Eat before the party. 2. Do not stand near the food table. 3. Always use a plate and utensils. 4. Make sure healthy options will be available. 5. Do not deny yourself. 6. Avoid beverages with calories. 7. Focus on activities other than eating. 8. Pair up! 9. Limit high fat items. 10. Maintain perspective! The Top 10 in Detail 1. Eat before the party. Try not to go to a party hungry. The thought process of saving calories throughout the day and indulging later does not work. This plan will cause excessive hunger and may lead to binge eating at the party. After gastric bypass this behavior will put you at risk for dumping syndrome while adjustable gastric band patients increase risk of blockage or obstruction. Try eating a cheese stick, piece of fruit, yogurt, or protein bar before the event. 2. Do not stand near the food table. If you are socializing with friends or family, mingle in a room that does not contain food. Never stand over the food table or kitchen island which may lead to unconscious nibbling. 3. Always use a plate and utensils. Make a conscious effort to put any foods that you consume onto a plate and use a fork, knife, or spoon to consume. Finger foods are easy to unconsciously over consume. Do not feel obligated to be a member of the “clean plate club”. It is acceptable to leave a few bites behind every time. 4. Make sure healthy options will be available. Offer to bring a healthy dish such as a fruit or vegetable tray or low fat/low calorie dessert. 5. Do not deny yourself. Closely evaluate the food choices. Choose 2-3 of your favorite foods and eat 3 bites of each. Remember to put these on a plate, use utensils, and no second helpings. The “3-bite plan” can work for desserts too. Choose your favorite and allow yourself a bit of indulgence without the guilt. beverage 6. Avoid beverages with calories. Holiday drinks and alcoholic beverages can be loaded with calories. Margaritas, white Russians, egg nog, and hot chocolate can contain up to 500 calories per 8 ounce serving. Stick with sugar free products, water, or artificially sweetened beverages that do not contribute to unnecessary calories. Try to drink a full glass of water between each alcoholic or calorie containing beverage. 7. Focus on activities other than eating. Many holiday events revolve solely around food. Limit the amount of time you and your family spend engaged in eating. Plan activities such as board games, card games, gift exchanges, and other activities that do not involve food. 8. Pair up! Find someone else who is attending the party who has similar weight loss goals. Use each other for accountability to stay on track. 9. Limit high fat items. Fat is more calorically dense than carbohydrate or protein products so by reducing fat you can usually cut calories. Watch out for fried foods, cream-based soups, casseroles, pies, processed meats, pastries and baked goods. 10. Maintain perspective! Overeating one day will not break your diet. If you over indulge and slide off track, do not panic. Stop the behavior immediately and get back on the program. Consider this as a learning experience and brainstorm ways on how to prevent it from happening again in the near future.
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There are a bunch of handy damage control diet strategies that you should employ to best prevent yourself from overdoing it at the dinner table this holiday season. Use the tips below to allow yourself to stay social and to be able to indulge in moderation without splitting your pants before the New Year:
1.) Perform High-Intensity Activity Before and/or After a Big Meal or Holiday Feast
I know; I promised diet strategies, but I simply cannot go without recommending some activity. Your body is most receptive to higher calorie and/or carbohydrate meals before and after high-intensity activity. Ideally you would want to workout out before AND after a big meal, but if you can only do one, that will suffice. Although, let’s face it, after a big meal you’re more likely to go into a “carb coma” than go workout. Your best options will be 20 minutes of circuit training before you jump in the shower and start your day. Then, a 20-30 plus minute walk a after the feast can serve as a bit of damage control.
2.) Do NOT Fast in Preparation for a Big Meal or Holiday Feast
Fasting in preparation for a “cheat meal” will not only lead to overeating, but worse: overeating foods that are extremely high in sugar, fat, or both! Your body is a survival mechanism. If it hasn’t had food in a while it anticipates a starvation state. This means that the next time that you eat your body will store the food as body fat (survival energy) in anticipation that it won’t see food again for another long period of time. Do your body a favor by eating every two to four hours as you normally would to prevent yourself from becoming a ravenous, fat-storing beast this holiday season!
3.) Do NOT Gorge Yourself
Eat until the point of satisfaction, not discomfort. It is imperative to understand that that holiday meals are not a ticket to eat as much as you can in as little time as possible. However, listen to your body and make sure to enjoy the foods you are craving in moderation and only eat when you are hungry. One more thing, eat slowly.
4.) Eat a High-Fiber, Protein-Rich Meal An Hour Before a Holiday Event
A meal high in fiber and protein before a big holiday meal will help prevent overeating by making you feel more full which in turn means less calories consumed during the ensuing feast. My favorite strategy is to drink a protein shake with fiber and healthy fats (e.g. 2-4 Tbsp. flax meal) and 1 liter of water before such a meal to help keep me nice and full upon arrival.
5.) Eat Leans Proteins and Fruits and Vegetables FIRST
Make sure to load up on healthier food choices first and try to eat as much lean meat, fish, and fruits and veggies as possible at the start of each holiday event. This will leave less room for the unhealthier, higher calorie treats. Plus, this way you know your body is getting in some good nutrition.
6.) Drink Water!
Water competes for space in your stomach and truly helps decrease appetite. For every plate you eat, try to drink 1-2 glasses of water.
7.) Do NOT Eat Again Until Hungry Following a Large Meal
I know I told you to eat every 2-4 hours, but there is one exception to this. If you eat a huge meal, it is important not to eat again until you are hungry and/or no longer full. If your body is not used to eating such a big meal, then it will take a much longer time to digest all that food and the worst thing you can do is put more food into an already full stomach, unless you prefer feeling like you’re going to explode.
8.) Immediately Resume Your Normal Eating Schedule at the Next Meal
What’s done is done. Now it is time to get back to your regular eating plan. Remember weekly caloric intake is far more important than daily caloric intake. For example, let’s say that you need 3,000 calories per day to maintain your current body weight. Well, all that you need to do is make sure the average daily caloric intake each week is 3,000 calories per day. This means that you can fluctuate your daily caloric intake and yield the same results as if you ate that same amount each day. So if you have one day of big eating where you eat 9,000 calories (just an example, not a recommendation), but you only eat 2,000 calories per day the rest of the week, you will still end up at the same caloric balance. Again, I am not recommending that you eat in such an extreme manner, rather I am suggesting that you do not have to obsess about being perfect. Just remember, this only works when you do it very occasionally. Make a habit of it and you’ll cause all kinds of problems.
9.) Never Eat Junk Food for Breakfast or Before Bed
Eating a highly refined carbohydrate meal first thing in the morning will make your blood sugar levels go crazy for the rest of the day resulting in greater junk food cravings and uncontrollable hunger. On the other hand, eating a big meal before bed will result in a bunch of unused energy that will be stored as body fat.
10.) Control your Portions
Try to eat only half of all the servings of unhealthy food that you choose. Half of the portions equal half the calories! Another idea, use small plates whenever possible. They appear full and you’re less likely to go back for more.
11.) Avoid Empty Liquid Calories and Alcohol
One can easily consume over 1,000 calories per day from liquid calories alone. This means that in one week, you will gain 2 lbs of body fat from just fluids! Opt for regular solid food calories versus empty liquid calories (e.g. juices and soft drinks), for at least the food will fill you up and provide some nutrition where as liquid calories, particularly alcohol, have no such effect. Rather, sugary and/or alcoholic drinks tend to make you hungrier in general and often hungrier for junk food in particular. Furthermore, your body cannot burn fat until the alcohol is processed out of your body in addition to the fact that alcohol consumption actually lowers leptin levels thus defeating one of the main purposes of this flexible eating (decreased leptin levels increase hunger and decreases your body’s use of fat for fuel). Thus over-consumption of alcohol can prevent the fat burning process from resuming until several days later and/or even cause unwanted fat gain and thus set you back as little as a few days to as long as a full week!
12.) Use Lower Calorie/Carbohydrate Substitutes Whenever Possible
Instead of using sugar, opt for zero calorie alternatives like Splenda or Stevia. They can deliver a similar taste without all of the extra sugar and calories. Even try replacing yeast with protein powder when you bake. The extra protein and reduced carbohydrates will result in a slimmer you while still providing some great tasting treats! Your goal should be to find the minimal amount of calories that can provide the same great taste that makes the holiday treats enjoyable rather than simply overdoing it because you can!
13.) Avoid Eating Meals that are High in Both Fat and Carbohydrates
The absolute worst thing that you can do is to eat a meal that is high in both fat and carbs. The high amount of carbs will lead to a rapid increase in blood sugar levels and thus large increases in the potent fat-storing hormone Insulin. The high amount of fat will lead to a large increase in free fatty acids in your bloodstream. Since Insulin is already present in large amounts, in addition to there being a large amount of free fatty acids now available in your blood, the stage is set for all those free fatty acids to be gobbled up and stored by your fat cells. This is the equivalent of becoming the next Goodyear blimp, so it is imperative to use caution at your holiday meals when it comes to combining fat (particularly saturated and trans fats) and carbs (particularly starches and refined sugars). In general, it is best to choose one over the other. But since most people crave carbs at their “cheat meals”, it is essential to keep the fat low at this meal. Want pasta? Instead of alfredo sauce, opt for marinara sauce with whole grain pasta. Want pizza? Make your own pizza with whole grain crust and fat-free cheese. Want mashed potatoes? Well then be sure to skip the gravy and go easy on the butter.
These small changes can literally save you hundreds, even thousands of calories, and more importantly will prevent your holiday feasts from creating the optimal fat-storing environment that will set you back from achieving your health and fitness goals.
Justin Yule, B.S., CPT is a local Chanhassen and Online weight loss & fitness boot camp instructor and personal trainer. . He is also the author of The Science of Getting Fit: 6 Proven Steps to Achieve Your Weight Loss & Fitness Goals. For a FREE Video Series on The Science of Getting Fit visit
For a free two-week trial to his Look Great at the Lake Boot Camp to experience the best personal training in Chanhassen, MN please visit
Holiday stress relief could come from banishing holidays, but there has got to be at least one holiday, maybe Groundhog day, that you like.
So maybe it is not the holiday that brings stress, but the thoughts about the holidays, and if I change the thoughts, then I change the physiology in my body, which is what stress is, right, an uncomfortable physiology in my body?
(Stress physiology happens fast, perhaps four times as fast as I can blink my eyes, and has a purpose, and it is not designed to be a habit).
Not sure about you, but when I was a little guy and school started and football started and the leaves turned colors, I felt excitement about the time of year, and looked forward to it, and as I remember delivering the Minneapolis Star Tribune on my early morning route some 50 or so years ago, I feel that same excitement. So that memory of events that happened over 1/2 century ago changes my body today.
That one half century old memory still brings the physiology of pleasure to my body, and that process is the key to holiday stress tips.
But back to the story. As a little guy, when I heard the first Christmas carol on the radio or TV, I felt excitement too, about Christmas, and that physiology was based on an anticipation of what might happen.
Our economic reality was not good, so I knew that I would not get a mountain of presents, but I still felt the excitement, and that is what we would now call eustress or good stress, linked to a positive anticipation.
I still get that tingle when I hear Christmas carols, although they start much earlier in the year now.
And then I change that positive anticipation, that eustress, to distress, by adding in many thoughts about responsibilities I know have including visits to the family and how do I keep my business moving ahead and attend to the holidays for example, and how do I handle my wife’s expectations about what the holidays should look like.
For her it involves lots of family and parties and chatter,ect.
For me it involves quite contemplation, oftentimes done in private.
There is a collision of lifestyles, and when I think about hers, I feel anxious, so it is the thought of fall and fall colors and football and Christmas carols which brings an eager anticipation and the thought about large gatherings of noisy people, even though I like the people, which brings the feeling of anxiety.
Holiday Stress Relief Tip #1
Change the thought to change the feeling. And do it on a schedule.
Is there some reason that I must feel anxious more than I feel good, since it is my thoughts that bring my physiology?
No reason at all, so I believe that we should schedule our thoughts about gratitude, for example, for every five minutes, for at least two heart beats.
That way I get my body used to the idea that it can feel good, whenever it wants to.
Now this is not a rapturous, transcendent kind of pleasure, it is a quiet contentment, and I see no reason not to have it on demand.
After all, I had that kind of physiology as a kid, but got trained out of it, as I grew up.
Time to remember that I can feel a quiet contentment and still take care of my responsibilities. Feeling good is not limited to payday, or Friday before the weekend, or that special date, or TV show, it is ok to feel good anytime.
It is actually the norm for humans to feel ok, the stress response should happen when I need to move quickly into fight, flee, or freeze action, and then I should rest while the feast is cooked.
And a tool to help with this process since it is so easy to get locked into the worst case scenario mindset?
Holiday Stress Relief Tip #2
Learn heart rate variability biofeedback. Heart rate variability biofeedback is a powerful tool that gives real time feedback about how your thinking impacts your physiology, and how fast that happens too, using a computer.
As you learn how fast you can move from an affiliative, cooperative heart centered physiology, you learn how easy it is to switch back to that physiology, so your holiday stress relief is actually done heart beat by heart beat, and that is at the slow end of the scale, because you will get trained in a cue thought to use with the Freeze Frame practice that works at the speed of thought.
For example, when I first heard of Heartmath in 2000, and bought it, I created a thought where I pictured my children, Shane, and Hannah Marie, as best I could, and placed that image inside my chest next to my heart, and the brain in my heart (yes, your heart has its own nervous system) learned that it was to get itself very coherent and feel a lot of love whenever I had that thought.
So I practice that thought routinely over the course of the day, to feel love, because that feeling of love feels good and is far healthier for me than distress over their various kiddie crimes.
Why create distress unnecessarily over kiddie crimes that happened in the past, or have not yet happened?
I prefer to solve problems from a place of eustress rather than distress and heart rate variability biofeedback is the tool for eustress.
Are you an athlete seeking to perform at your peak, or a student preparing for the Graduate Records Exam, Law School Admissions Test?
Heart rate variability biofeedback is an excellent tool to open the higher perceptual centers of the brain for brainstorming.
Yes, there is Research Proof
Heart rate variability biofeedback has grown out of research in the new field of neurocardiology, which is the study of the heart’s own nervous system. The heart can learn and make decisions on its own, it senses a number of things, and sends much more data up about emotional issues than the brain sends down.
So regulating your hearts coherence is a must do for holiday stress relief.
Oh, it took me all of six one-half hour practices to get a good solid feel for the process, which means I no longer need the computer to complete the eustress creation, on demand, on any given heart beat.
Want to check it out?
(Don’t forget that one of the leading brain fitness gurus, Alvaro Fernandez, at Sharp Brains, rates heart rate variability as the best stress management tool).
Michael S. Logan is a brain fitness expert, a counselor, a student of Chi Gong, and licensed one on one HeartMath provider. I enjoy the spiritual, the mythological, and psychological, and I am a late life father to Shane, 10, and Hannah Marie, 4, whose brains are so amazing.
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