This time of year, everyone seems to be caught up in getting ready for Christmas and everything that comes with it. The shopping, the holiday parties, gatherings with friends and family, more shopping, while you’re trying to find those special gifts but can't seem to. Yes, this time of year seems to take up all of our free time, but are you really experiencing the Christmas experience you imagined as a kid?

Things have changed a bit since the family gathered around the old black and white television set and watched the variety shows put on their Christmas Specials. We all, I mean the baby boomer’s generation, that is, can remember Bing Crosby singing White Christmas, live on his Christmas special and watching the original Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman programs. So, trying to capture the feelings of Christmas's gone by, is pretty hard today. When you’re getting tv commercials bombarding you with their "Must Have" Christmas gift suggestions. Pushing everything from new car sales, with a scene of the car parked in the driveway, wrapped in a big red bow. To shopping on every online site that’s stating that they have everything, you need in one store to make your Christmas holiday a success.

What you really need to do is take a minute, to breathe, and think of what you really have to be thankful for, that you received over the past year, and if possible, let the person/persons who provided those heartwarming gifts know that you are very appreciative of their actions.

After all, the true meaning of Christmas as We see it is not in the receiving, but in the act of giving. Giving a meaningful gift, like the gift of your time, just being there for friends, family, even strangers can provide you with the best feeling in the world and may just bring back a memory or two about how things were when you were growing up.

It’s not a bad idea to keep those memories alive throughout the year, not just at Christmas time, is it?

Here at HeartRateMonitorsUSA.com, we just thought we would write a post on what we felt was simply a way for Us to say to you, Merry Christmas and Thank You ALL for the opportunity to meet your fitness needs this past 2018.

Merry Christmas from Us, Our Staff and Our Families!

And We just have to ask; Are YOU Ready for your New Year’s Resolutions?

At least it became metrological winter on December 1st. The real first day of the winter solstice begins on Wednesday, December 21st.

It’s during this time of year that some people experience increased bouts of moodiness, possibly even depression. There is even a name for this type of affliction, it’s called "Seasonal Affective Disorder", or SAD. Or as we usually refer to it in layman’s terms as the “Winter Blues”.
SAD is a form of depression that temporarily affects people during the winter months but tends to go away during the spring and summer months as the days begin to lengthen again.

People suffering from SAD can feel moody or grumpy, lose motivation for activities they would normally enjoy doing and may sleep more but still feel tired. They also crave more carbohydrates — think comfort foods like macaroni and cheese, pizza (can’t really fault them for wanting pizza, but again in moderation), along with pasta and bread. In addition, people who already are suffering from depression may experience a marked increase in their symptoms.

Let’s face it, this time of year the days are getting shorter, the weather is getting colder and snow may soon be on its way. It’s the time of year when many people leave for work before the sun rises and return home after it sets, leaving little time for activities in the daylight. No wonder we start feeling moody and sluggish. We all need that intense sunshine to motivate us and give us a bright outlook on our lives and surroundings.

Now, you can sit back on your couch or favorite recliner and watch reruns of your favorite movies. Or, you can get yourself up and moving. Doctors recommend that at this time of year, getting your body moving and subjecting it to some intermediate exercise is one of the best ways you can combat those winter time blues. Short of getting on a plane and traveling to some sunny beach in the lower hemisphere, that is!

It may be cold outside, but getting out of your house or office can help you shake the blues. Try taking a walk during your lunch hour or spending time outside on the weekends to expose your body to more natural light, go on and soak up those winter rays, they may not be as intense, but if there is snow on the ground, it amplifies the rays and is good for you, but don’t forget the sunscreen! Remember, exercise is just about the best thing you can for yourself at this time of year and at any time. Elevating your heart rate with a brisk walk, bike, run, swim or other workouts, can help you shake any feelings of moodiness. When you exercise, your brain releases chemicals called endorphins that can boost your mood. Now we all know this so why do we procrastinate about it?

Remember that activity watch or monitor you received last Christmas. The goal was to get yourself in great shape for the New Year, well, don’t use the “It's Too Cold Outside” to NOT get yourself moving. Get back on a schedule and use this winter weather as an incentive to embrace the season and start racking up the miles. And since we are writing this before December 24th, if you don’t have an Activity Watch  or at least a Pedometer, it’s not too late to put it on your list, or maybe your significant other’s list.

So, now that you know that the “Winter Blues” are an actual seasonal disorder, you can take the necessary steps to give your outlook on things the boost you need. Another thing, on New Year’s Eve, when everyone is talking about the resolutions they are making for 2017, you can say you're already on track. Since your turning the “Winter Blues” into Winter Fun!

So we are right in the midst of all the holiday clamor as we all hurry along, shopping for that special gift for the people we care about. From going to pick out that special tree, whether it’s at a tree farm, a local lot or maybe you’re picking your first artificial tree, there is soooo much to do to get ready for this special time of year.

You may be wishing you can spend some down time this time of year with family and friends but in reality, the stress of making your Christmas season, one that is reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell picture, and can very well impact your health, and not too many people pay attention to the warning signs!

The fact is that a lot of pressure comes with the holidays. And so health concerns can  sky-rocket for a lot of people at this time of year. High blood pressure and Christmas do NOT have to go hand in hand.

Could Christmas be bad for your health? Well, it doesn’t have to be.

You may have heard the term, “The silent killer” well, while most people think that it is referring to your blood pressure, the true motivator is “Stress”. Which if you let it, can elevate your pressure to such a state that you can indeed become ill.

The three big causes of high blood pressure and poor health, in general, are poor diet, lack of exercise and stress, tension or anxiety. All three of these factors can grow proportionately during the holiday season. We often find ourselves sitting around the dinner table gorging ourselves on various mixtures of sugar and grease, too stuffed to move and getting annoyed with our relatives.

OK, that’s the worst case scenario, and thankfully it’s never usually that bad. But if we approach the holidays with a bit of forethought we can avoid the holiday snares and still have a good time.

If we keep things in perspective and think things through, the holiday period we can even make Christmas good for your blood pressure.

So what to do? Just try to strike a balance.

Now we know you have all heard the phrase, “Everything in Moderation” Well, that’s because there is a reason for it. Go ahead, enjoy Christmas dinner and the festive parties that happen this time of year, but don’t stuff yourself. Use that "Common Sense" we are all supposed to have. You know that anything in excess is not good for you so keep a reign on your portion sizes and make it a point to engage your friends and distant relatives in some conversations.  This is a great way to keep you from going back for seconds or even thirds at the deseart table.

Make sure you get some exercise on a regular basis this time of year. If you need to set yourself a goal or if you need to be prodded along, go and get yourself an Activity Monitor , this way, depending on the type you get, it can remind you when you’ve been staying put a little too long. To get moving, especially before and after those holiday meals. Strive for balance. You’ll feel better, more relaxed, and it’s less likely that that irritating cousin of yours will get under your skin and raise your blood pressure as usual. Remember, a balanced life is a happier life – and one where blood pressure stays within manageable limits.

Most importantly of all – stop worrying so much. Worrying never solved anything and simply put, it’s bad for your health. Worrying raises stress levels and blood pressure. So if you can’t find that special present that Johnny had his heart set on, don’t stress it, usually anything you give him will be appreciated, especially if along with the gift, you add some personal time along with it!

So the most important holiday message we have for you is – try not to get too stressed. Stress is the silent killer, not high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a symptom.

Now, we take having high blood pressure seriously and if you suffer from high blood pressure you should be seeing your physician regularly. And we think it’s safe to say he/she (your physician) probably suggests that you take your blood pressure regularly so that you are aware of how you’re doing.

At HeartRateMonitorsUSA.com we are fortunate to carry some of the most accurate blood pressure monitors on the market. From automatic pressure monitors that self-inflate, to ones that allow you to take your pressure on your wrist. If you want some peace of mind, then click on this link, and check out the various types of blood pressure monitors that we have available.

So from all of us here at HeartRateMonitorsUSA.com, have a healthy, stress-less holiday season.

 

Thanksgiving has come and gone – but that doesn’t mean that your exercise routine has to take a holiday too. With Christmas and the New Year drawing closer, most people have a tendency to let their fitness plans fall by the wayside. Don’t let that happen to you. The holiday season is full of temptations […]