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Health & Fitness

What can Santa teach you to stay fit after the holidays?

Now that the holidays are over, what can Santa teach you to get into the best shape of your life.

What can Santa teach you to stay fit after the holidays? Kinda ironic that such an iconic individual who travels the world in one night to deliver toys and goodies to all the good little boys & girls, has a severe weight problem! You have to ask yourself, just what is this man doing the other 364 days of the year. Does he have some secret metabolism that allows him to carry tons of toys, shimmy down chimneys, and consume a boatload of cookies and milk in one night? How his is diet through the year? Does he abstain from sweets then gorges when he travels? What type of training is Santa doing to have a never-ending supply of energy and endurance? Well, you'd be surprise that Santa's regiment is one that you can learn from, possibly model. Let's get into it.

I don't want to get into the origins of this roly-poly jovial individual. There are far too many 'truths' about just who this guy really is or who does he represent. Well, for our purposes, the man represents all the is good in the world: kindness, empathy, generosity. And these are virtues anyone needs to harness.

This is my letter to the man:

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Dear Santa

You are an incredibly loved person and you give yourself whole-heartedly and so many want you to continue on your yearly journey but I have a concern Mr. Claus. It would seem to me behind that kool-aid smile and pleasant disposition, that you could use to lose a couple of pounds. All that extra weight is just not good for the heart and quite frankly your heart is THE strongest thing you got. You don't want it to get bigger. No, no...I mean in size. Yes you have a big heart and I'm sure you want to continue bringing joy to the children of the world, don't you? Think about it. Your reindeer would love you more for the weight loss. Less for them to pull through the sky. Landing on roof tops would require less brake power from your herd and Rudolph would have more energy to play in all the reindeer games, probably dominate. How's your blood sugar? Are you diabetic? And when was the last time you saw a doctor? The last thing you'd want is a world news alert that you suddenly had a massive heart attack after being stuck in a chimney and just couldn't breathe. Anyway, just want you around for a very long time. I care about your well-being. 

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Take Care

Al

Now, overlooking the obvious, let's dive into the many positive habits that Santa's lifestyle can help with yours

STEP 1: Love Oneself Regardless of Appearances

Santa is also jovial and with his laughter makes everyone he comes in contact smile. That is a powerful! As you look at yourself and complain about your weight, chastising yourself, for allowing another year to go by and you haven't committed to a healthier lifestyle, count your blessings. The cup is always full. You just haven't tapped into it. People pick up on how you see and feel about yourself. Then pretty much decide who you are. That's tough to swallow but it is a self-perpetuating cycle. How does Santa handle his obvious obesity? He knows his appearance isn't a reflection of who he is internally. He is 'bigger' than that. He gives. He smiles. He nurtures. He laughs. He could be a lean mean fightin' machine but void of all that makes him awesome and who would care?

STEP 2: Help People Get What They Want

This one is a favorite of the late Zig Ziglar. His mantra is as follows: 'In order to get what you want. You help others get what they want first.' Santa never asks for anything in return. His purpose is to give. The more he helps others, the closer he gets to his needs which, I believe, is peace on earth. Yeah, I know. It just doesn't seem that we are closer to that but it's a process and that has no time-table.

STEP 3: Carry a Heavy Load

File this one into the weight training folder. How does this man do it? For a man who looks out of shape, he sure can carry around a crap load of stuff and still have a spring in his step. I'm pretty sure he trains for this during the off-season. And that's where the magic lies. Santa has a one night, one Olympic event that he is responsible for executing at the highest level. You, on the other hand, have a lifetime to prepare for living. Yours is an ongoing training session. There isn't a deadline. Well there is one six feet deep. Why not make the most of your living by being in the best possible shape you can be. You'll be ready for anything that life throws in your way.

STEP 4: Surround Yourself with Best Company

Behind a great man is an even greater woman. And Mrs. Claus is the epitome of that! I bet one of the main reason Santa is so happy is because things at home are great. Sure, I'm sure they have their spats. 'Hey Nick, shovel the driveway already' or 'I'm not one of your kids that you can just hand me a gift and walk away. I need affection'. Mrs Claus shows much love for ole' Saint Nick. Whether it be your partner, your friends, or colleagues, surround yourself with positive, loving people. The energy that generates is infectious and powerful. It's great for the soul.

So you may be asking how does all this help me stay fit after the holidays? Isn't it obvious?

To stay fit after the holidays starts within you. Let me say that again. In order for you to stay fit, it starts from within you. Your emotional, mental and physical well-being is at the core of you getting in shape and staying fit. Accept where you are now. If you are obese. That's okay. If you have an eating disorder, that's okay. If you've tried a million times to get fit, that's okay too. Stop beating yourself up. That does more harm than good. Accept you for who you are NOW. Once you start, stress reduces and clarity set in.

Help those in need or help those who can use a hand. Giving of oneself has a cathartic effect on what might afflict you. If your focus has only been about you, about your weight, about your short comings, then you have only substituted that for your life.

Now that the holiday stress is over. What can you do to start putting that stress to good use? Weight training or any exercise has proven to constructively cope with these stresses. Allocate 15 minutes a day and just put yourself through a simple workout like pushups, squats, crunches, dips, lunges, jumping jacks. You'll feel much better. And that coping mechansim will be freshly lubricated.

Holidays is the time for people to come together and share the experience. Don't lose sight of that. Gifts are a mis-direction. The greatest gifts are the gifts that we receive from a persons smile, or a persons willingness to help or listen or a persons putting your needs in front of theirs.

So just place both hands on the side of your belly. Lean slightly back. And from the bottom of your soul, laugh yourself silly and revel in THE greatest gift: you to the world.

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