Thanksgiving break: A time to relax, be with family or friends, take a break from classes and stuff your face with unbelievable amounts of food. It is one of the only days a year that it is acceptable to eat as much as you possibly can and still ask for more. We are always good at getting up for seconds, thirds and even fourths, but we are not always good at getting up to exercise it all off. Here are a few ideas on how to lose that weight you gained over break.
             
The first thing that needs to be done when losing stomach fat is cardio. Cardio includes running, biking, swimming, etc. When trying to lose muffin tops, love handles or any kind of belly weight, cardio is the way to lose it. First start with a twenty-minute warm up, because the blood needs to get moving before the fat burning. Then, pick up the pace and run, jog, swim, bike or hop on a gym machine for at least another fifteen to twenty minutes to burn the weight. This will jump start your metabolism, which is the fat burner. Continue doing this daily or at least three times a week, and make it a part of your schedule. Then watch as the muffins you consume lose their way to your hips.
             
Along with the continuous cardio, doing abdominal work outs are helpful in toning the muscles as you’re losing the weight. Crunches are great but only if done properly. The proper way to do a crunch is to lay on your back with your feet flat on the ground and bent knees. Then, place your hands behind your head to support it. Squeeze your glutes and lift your upper body — shoulders included — up to the ceiling. While doing this, make sure your chin is directing the upward motion. Do not pull your chin up and into the body, but reach your chin up to the ceiling to save your neck. You will feel more when doing it this way.
             
In light of just coming off of Thanksgiving —- the only holiday where you are encouraged to eat as much as humanly possible —- it is also important to keep a healthy physique so we are able to stay awake and more alert, feel our best and have a happy and healthy dwelling place for the Holy Spirit, since our bodies are not our own. May the memories of the holidays stay with you forever, but not the weight that was gained!