Aaron Gilbert is the owner of Longevity Athletics in Maricopa. Photo by Adam Wolfe

The holidays often wreak havoc on diets, but Longevity Athletics owner Aaron Gilbert has a few tips to stay healthy during and after the endless feasting of the season.

“During the holidays, it’s a difficult time to stay fit, so it’s important to find ways to put healthy twists on comfort foods,” Gilbert says. “That way you can still enjoy the food without going too far into the dark side.”

With so much of the holiday season revolving around food, it’s not always possible to adjust what we ingest. However, another useful tip to help keep the weight off is to stay active. According to Gilbert, it doesn’t really matter what activities you do, as long as you keep your heart rate up.

“The temperature restricts people, so take advantage of the evenings with activities you may not usually do,” Gilbert says. “Find something that elevates your heart rate for 20 minutes a day. Walk for 20 minutes or even play with your dogs at the park. It’s important just to get moving.”

Health Tips
1. Put healthy twists on comfort foods (less bread and more onions in stuffing, skim milk in mashed potatoes, remove skin and fat from your meat serving).
2. Keep plate balanced with vegetables and fruit.
3. Elevate your heart rate with 20-minute activities daily.
4. Reduce salt or find a salt substitute.
5. If you’ve fallen off your exercise routine during the holidays (or never had one), get moving!
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Tips for losing weight and keeping it off
1. Set a weight goal and learn your body mass index (BMI)
2. Eat less – you decide how
3. Keep track of what you’re eating
4. Add activity – it burns calories
5. Stay motivated
Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
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About Aaron Gilbert
Owner, Longevity Athletics
Age: 38
Family: Wife, brother, mother and half-sister
Hometown: Phoenix
Maricopan since: 2007
Pets: Chihuahua and three cats
Hobbies: Reading, anything outdoors and table tennis
Like most about Maricopa: I like the small town feel in comparison to other places I’ve lived. You get to know people and there is more of a sense of community.
Like least about Maricopa: Out of all the things, I’d like to see the passageway widened to the I-10.
Favorite Food: Homemade bunless burger
Favorite Drink: Coconut water
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This story appeared in the Winter edition of InMaricopa the Magazine.