By: Ellen Glickman, Ph.D.

October 29, 2024

Halloween brings a seemingly irresistible spread of treats, and it's easy to indulge, especially as we dip into that bowl of candy or “check” the kids trick or treating haul. But keeping our bodies healthy means finding a balance between enjoying seasonal treats and maintaining good habits for our well-being.
 
As we age, our metabolic rate and body systems decline gradually — about 1% per year, or roughly 10% per decade. For those of us who exercise consistently, there’s good news: we may slow that decline to only 8% per decade! Balancing candy with a healthy lifestyle doesn’t mean cutting out the fun. It means making mindful choices to keep our health on track while savoring the season.
 
Tips for Halloween (and Beyond): Candy in Moderation
 
Maintaining a healthy body weight is all about energy balance. To stay on track, think about balancing the calories from treats with regular physical activity. Here are a few simple, manageable ways to do that as the holiday season unfolds:
 

1. Plan Your Treats: Enjoy your favorite candies, but try setting aside a few pieces rather than indulging in everything at once. A little planning can make a big difference.

2. Balance Calories with Activity: If you’re treating yourself to extra sweets, balance it with a bit of extra exercise. Whether it’s a brisk walk, a quick workout, or dancing to your favorite playlist, burning those extra calories keeps things in balance.

3. Keep to a Routine: Regular meals, hydration, and plenty of sleep help control cravings and provide the energy to stay active and feel good.

4. Move with Friends and Family: If exercising sounds like a chore, grab a friend for a walk, listen to a podcast, or play an audiobook. Making activity enjoyable is key to staying consistent. Walk, jog, play pickleball, or hike — just choose something that keeps you moving and smiling!

 
By: Ellen Glickman, Ph.D.

I started jogging and realizing the importance of exercising sometime around my senior year of high school, when my best friend pushed me to “jog around our junior high school track”.  From that point on I was “hooked”, and I have not stopped “moving”.   Exercise and walking jogging, and running became a part of my sanity, listening to music is my way of relaxing.  I soon discovered that I could think better.

Very coincidentally today we know that regular walking, and exercise increases blood flow to the brain, leading to the release of hormones that promote the growth of neurons, and that may then improve overall brain function and memory.  Some may find the value in walking and thinking, and others may not.

The value of moving (energy expenditure), physical activity, exercise and eating a balanced diet (which is very important) became increasingly more important as life evolved as I decided to pursue more education in the area and not only “listen to my body” but seek a degree to learn more.  Getting a degree in this field of exercise and figuring out how it affected my body became a motivation.  As a baby boomer, I am realizing the value that maybe the years of exercise has had and can reflect that having grown up with Jack LaLanne and Jane Fonda as role models, I believe that for the apparently healthy individual to make a habit out of eating less and doing more sounds so simple and is really the answer. That is why we all need to keep moving and not stop but listen to our body.

See you on the road!