foodsandflavors~™ Carmen Long
Carmen Long
WRITER & PHOTOS Carmen Long Family and Consumer Agent N.C. Cooperative Extension Surry & Alleghany county centers.
Another great reason to visit the merchants and services you see showcased in
That’s where you’ll find your FREE copy!* yadkinvalleymagazine.com *due to the magazine’s popularity not all locations will have magazines in stock at all times
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ya dkin va lle y magaz i ne.com
Extra weight is not the gift we want to give ourselves during the holidays. With all the delicious treats to eat and being too busy to exercise, it is easy to put on a few additional pounds. In fact, if you do, you are not alone. Many Americans gain between 1 and 5 pounds during the holidays. Weight gained in the few weeks from mid-November until New Year’s Eve accounts for more than half of the weight gained for the entire year. If those few pounds melted away as quickly as some of our snow falls here in this part of the country, we wouldn’t be concerned. Unfortunately, that weight is like the old wives’ tales about snow which stays on the ground is waiting on the next snow fall to come. That extra weight is often just hanging around for more pounds to be added to it, which many people never lose. Fortunately, help is available. The holidays are not a very realistic time to try to lose weight so maintaining should be our goal. The 16th annual Eat Smart, Move More, Maintain, don’t gain! Holiday Challenge is a FREE seven-week challenge which provides participants with tips, tricks, and ideas to help maintain your weight from November 14 to December 31. Participants can engage as much or as little as they would like to, as all resources are sent to their email and available online. Benefits include: • Weekly Newsletters • Daily Tips • Survive a holiday party • Manage holiday stress • Stay active during the winter • Weekly Challenges • Healthy holiday recipes • Support through social media • Share progress in private Facebook Community • Recipes on Pinterest • Tips and updates on Twitter and Instagram For employers: If you are interested in promoting the Holiday Challenge as a workplace wellness benefit, please call Cooperative Extension at 336-401-8025 for more information.
