So now that you’re probably elbow deep in Black Friday shopping, running from store to store to find the best bargain, don’t forget about that HUGE “present” that awaits you come New Year’s Day if you’re not careful…….

…..those extra 10 pounds that many people put on between Thanksgiving Day and New Year’s Day.

Let’s not forget about that extra slice of pie or cake you just had to have before finally calling it quits…or that after dinner nap you couldn’t help but take after not being able to move up from the couch. Overindulging in a good home-cooked meal is so common place now that even advertisers are getting in on the trend and commercialize on our overeating by showing buffet tables full of every known high calorie food options available.

But you don’t have to sit down and let those extra 10 pounds take control over your life.

Now is the time to reclaim your waistline….and get back those extra 10 pounds before they get the best of you.

Like The Strength and Conditioning King said in his recent post to remember to enjoy your family during this holiday season….and that “food is just a tradition and a perk— NOT a necessity!”

The Health and Wellness Queen wants to share with you 7 Survival Tips to avoid putting on those unwanted extra 10 pounds during the holiday season.

1. Don’t skip meals. When you starve yourself all day, your metabolism slows down and prevents you from burning off all those extra calories.
2. Travel with an Option B food plan….which means if you know you’re going to have dinner over Grandma’s house who doesn’t cook with anything but real butter and real shortening then offer to bring your own healthy side dish or entrée.
3. Avoid high fat and high cholesterol laden food items….and choose more fresh vegetables and fresh foods that aren’t processed.
4. Maintain a good balance of protein, whole grains and vegetables…even when sitting down to dinner at Grandma’s.
5. Limit your caloric intake at each meal to avoid piling on over 2000 calories on your plate.
6. Stand up for yourself and your health and don’t let others convince you that that extra piece of pie won’t hurt…..and the last and final Survival Tip to avoiding those 10 pounds is to….
7. Exercise! Start your morning by using your Maximum DB Training, Backyard Workout, or Working Out With Rhadi DVD . This will serve double duty by suppressing your appetite and boosting your metabolism.

This is the final and best TIP to surviving the holidays!!

So while you’re out getting the best prices for gifts, don’t forget about the biggest gift of all….your health….and what you can do right now to stay slim and healthy for the holiday season.

To your wellness,
Dr. Traci Ferguson, The Health and Wellness Queen

P.S. Remember the “Black Friday” http://www.rhadi.com/sales/black_friday_72hour_sale.html sale ends on the 26th of November to get your copy of the Backyard Workout, Working out with Rhadi DVD or Maximum DB Training.

Walmart saves….

…you hundreds of dollars on your monthly prescription bill with their revolutionary generic medication program AND

…millions of people from walking around with blood pressure so high, you’d be amazed that they haven’t had a stroke yet. 

…families from having to choose between buying their medications or buying groceries.

AND most importantly, Walmart saves you from having to struggle yet again to stick to your healthy living program and I truly believe that Walmart’s $4 prescription generic drug program saves lives!!

I see it everyday. 

Elderly people who have Medicare but may not have adequate prescription coverage to pay for the medications they need.

Working parents who may not have health insurance offered to them because they don’t work full-time or even if they do work full-time, can’t afford the monthly premiums and survive, so they opt to forgo health insurance and hope for the best.

Or your “forever students” who are too old to still be on their parents insurance but clearly can’t afford to purchase their own individual health insurance policies.

And even if you’re fortunate enough to have insurance, you may not have adequate coverage to afford all the medications you need for your blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, cholesterol or heart disease.

These $4 prescriptions are for generic drugs….drugs that are no longer under pharmaceutical patent and therefore can be manufactured at various plants and cost signficantly less than their brand or trade name counterparts. 

But before switching from a brand name drug to a generic drug, discuss any potential side effects or change in drug strength with your doctor.  Your doctor will be able to answer your questions regarding whether the generic version of the drug is right for you and your situation. 

If you’ve been walking around with blood pressure as high as 250/130 (with normal blood pressure being 120/80) and you haven’t heard about Walmart’s $4 prescription program…then ask you doctor.  Don’t wait another minute, another hour or another day before discussing your future health with your doctor. 

Just because you don’t have insurance, doesn’t mean you don’t need or deserve to be treated for your medical condition.  If your symptoms are so severe that you don’t know how you’re going to get out of bed or make it through the day, head to your local emergency department for urgent evaluation.  If they prescribe a medication and you wonder if you can afford it, speak up and ask….”Is a generic available?”  and “How much will it cost?” 

Some doctors don’t even know about the $4 prescription program at Walmart especially if they don’t regularly see patients who don’t have insurance or can’t afford to buy their medications.  And I’m always amazed at the increasing number of different medications that are continually added to the growing list of available drugs.  Check out www.walmart.com and click on the pharmacy tab to view the updated list of $4 prescription drugs. 

Help…and medication assistance….is right around the corner at your local Walmart pharmacy.

You will need a written prescription from your doctor for these generic drugs but the true price of spending a few hours in the doctor’s office is priceless when compared to spending your life with uncontrolled and dangerously high blood pressure, blood sugar or cholesterol.

So the next time you pass by a Walmart or Super Walmart, stop and think about all the many lives that are being touched with just $4 a month.

To your wellness,

Dr. Traci Ferguson, The Health and Wellness Queen