Sun | Apr 22, 2018

Krysta Weighs In: Christmas Edition

Published:Monday | December 22, 2014 | 12:00 AM
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Contributed Photo Partnered Abs: Wrap legs around each other and then crunch, head supported, up to a sitting position and give high fives with both hands before returning to start position.
Contributed Photo Supported Partnered Abs - works both partners. Stand together back to back. Bend from the hip and keep a straight back. Then allow your partner to go on your back and perform a lower a crunch, bringing the knees in then stretching it out.
Partnered Tricep Dips: Two-in-one. One partner gives support in a wall squat position while the other goes in front,mimickes squat position, places hands palm down on the supporter's knees, then press down lowering the body before going back to original squat.
Contributed Photo Mommy and me - together stretch. Legs open, one pulls the other over and reverses. Stretches both the leg and back.
Cardio Run: wrap towel around the waist of the runner to provide support and restraint, the runner sprints on the spot. Then you switch.
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Christmas is finally here, and for most, it is the season to ditch the workout regime and healthy eating to spend quality time with family and friends over some good soul food.

That has always been my Christmas - dropping the norm for this extraordinary time. With the closure of the gym until the new year, I have been wondering about how to approach health and fitness the smart way for this season.

Just joining me? Well, you have missed a crazy ride. If you're a returning reader, welcome back. Krysta Weighs In has been quite a life-changing journey. With a goal to live a healthier life, I weigh in on issues arising from said mission.

I know this dream of being fabulous, while maintaining a healthy lifestyle over the holidays may be easier said than done. But if you're anything like me, you will realise that the break from the gym or working out could have damaging effects on the body later on, and no way am I turning back now, I've come too far. My trainer Shawn 'Xavier' Grey has provided me with a few tips to incorporate during the 'jolliest' time of the year, and I have decided to share them with you.

Exercising from home

Now, exercising from home can be fun, once it becomes interactive. So gather the hubby, wifey, the entire family and make an event out of it. My trainer, along with myself and members of my family, have taken the liberty of demonstrating a few innovative workout moves just for you.

Eating Dos and Donts

Highlighting that the main food groups are protein, carbohydrates and fats, Grey recommends for the season that we keep abreast of the good and bad from the respective groups.

For Christmas meals, he advised that lean proteins are the best - pork, egg whites, turkey breast, baked chicken breast, and steamed fish. Avoid consuming the fat from these meats.

Good carbs are a great source of energy before exercising. Boiled sweet potato, white yam, banana and ripe plantain are highly recommended. He noted that eating Irish potato should be a no no, since it carries more cholesterol than the sweet potato (the irony).

Other bad carbs include rice, bread, buns, and flour.

It is also a time for vegetables, so feel free to go all natural or steam things up. In Jamaica, we love our steamed vegetables with salt fish but be mindful that salt fish has a lot of sodium which is harmful to the body.

He pointed out, however, "the more you eat, more fat you burn, so if you do decide to indulge, do so responsibly and do not skip meals."

Well, wish me luck, or join in on the fitness festivities with me. Don't forget to let me know how it works out, I know I will.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com