Holiday Stress and Wellness Edition: Exercise and the Holidays

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. Guest: Amanda R. Bonikowske, Ph.D. There are many benefits of exercise, from improving our mental health to reducing the risk of chronic disease. It can improve our sleep, increase our energy and can help establish relationships with others. It’s an activity that almost anyone can do, and it doesn’t have to cost a thing, other than an individual’s time. The holiday season will soon be upon us as well as its associated stress and in many cases, weight gain. Can exercise help with some of these problems associated with the holidays? How much exercise is optimal? What kind of exercise should we recommend for those who are unable to participate in vigorous exercise? Does it matter if we do one type of exercise or is a variety of exercise better? These are questions I’ll be asking my guest, Amanda Bonikowske, Ph.D., an exercise physiologist from the Department of Cardiovascular Diseases at the Mayo Clinic as we discuss “Exercise and the Holidays”. Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.