And while all this is fine, it is true that we should enjoy as we have all had a hard year where we have worked hard and experienced many challenges, but we are still here and for this we must give thanks, be happy and celebrate. But in all our doings conventional wisdom states it should be done in moderation. So I wish to offer healthy tips that should guide us through a festive but healthy season so, on the other side of the New Year we can still be or even be feeling and looking as good as or better than before.
Top tips:
1.Nutrition: a balanced diet is always the way to go. So don’t get too carried away with the eating. Remember to eat your fruits and vegetables and don’t overdo the fast food and sugary foods. Especially the diabetics must be careful with the cakes, even though the temptation is great, moderation must be the key. Limit your portion size. Don’t forget you don’t want to end up in the hospital January morning with your blood sugar out of control.
2.Exercise: Some of us will get plenty exercise in the revelry of the carnivals. We must remember to keep our exercise routines bearing in mind the excess eating and drinking we normally do this time of year. You do not want all the progress you have made over the past year to be dashed away in a few weeks. Keep up the habit, we know once that is broken it is often difficult to restart. And if you are not accustomed to exercise now is a good time to start as you will have a few days of holidays this season. Get a group of friends a start an exercise club, cycling is one that seems to be in the increase and is a very good form of exercise. If you plan to” live in the band for carnival” it’s still not too late to get in some exercise and try to get your fitness level up a bit. A good jam of course is certainly good exercise.
3.Water: Drink plenty water. Especially the party animals in the carnival time. As we revel in the troupes and the other parties that go until morning we must remember to keep hydrated. Alcohol also causes you to urine more frequently so you will need to replenish by drinking even more water than normal. Remember to alternate very glass of alcoholic drink with a glass of water.
4.Sleep: I know the carnival is time when we get very little rest as there is so much going on, I think there was a song a few years ago that said “from jouvert to last lap we living on the road”. We still have to realize that the body needs rest to function and so we still need to try get in at least 6 hours during those party days and the usual 8 hours on the other days. And remember it won’t break or make you if you don’t go to every party or fete.
5.Relaxation: Take some me time and find a quiet area to relax and reflect on the year past and plan for the year to come. Many of us have lived a very busy life over the year and as the young people say take some time and “chillax”. Plan your activities and don’t stress yourself out this season, the things you cannot change don’t worry about them.
6.Alcohol: it’s a festive season and alcoholic beverages forms part of the festivities. While I will not tell you not to drink, I will say do so in moderation and do so responsibly. Don’t drink and drive. Period. Get a designated driver. It makes no sense to drink to get drunk; you miss half the fun if you’re dunk. Avoid drinking with strangers.
7.Safe sex: parties, alcohol, good looking people and sex come hand in hand. Remember that STI’s (sexual transmitted infections) doesn’t have a face so practice safe sex at all times. Many unwanted pregnancies occur at this period every year. It is much cheaper to protect yourselves. USE A CONDOM.
At the risk of sounding like a boring uptight professor I end here and just encourage you to enjoy and have fun but use wisdom and do all things in moderation.