Trick or Treat: Sneaky Ways to Be Healthy This Halloween
Can you believe that Halloween is just around the corner? According to the National Retail Federation, 69% of Americans plan to celebrate by carving pumpkins, handing out candy, and throwing a party. With the holiday primarily focused around eating sweet treats, it may be hard to believe that there are still ways to sneak in some health benefits.
There is something about this time of year that makes watching classic thriller movies so appealing. What if we said that watching a spooky movie could be part of your workout routine? University of Westminster researchers found that watching a 90-minute horror film can burn over 100 calories due to the rush of adrenaline.
The top 4 calorie burning horror movies were:
1. The Shining- 184 calories
2. Jaws- 161 calories
3. The Exorcist- 158 calories
4. Alien- 152 calories
It’s no surprise that participating in social activities, such as Halloween celebrations, can boost your mood and support your overall well-being. Celebrating Halloween with your friends and family can lead to stronger relationships. Researchers have found that those who have strong meaningful connections tend to be happier and can even have a reduced risk of serious health conditions such as Alzheimer disease.
While prepping for your Halloween celebrations, don’t forget to get your body moving. Healthtrax has created a simple yet effective workout to help you get your daily exercise in. Want something a little more challenging? Check out our Halloween themed group fitness classes to get a “killer” workout.
Our Tricks
Set a timer for 5 minutes. Complete 10 reps of each exercise before moving to the next. Repeat 3 times.
S- Squats
P- Push-ups
O- Overhead press
O- Opposite toe touches
K- Kickbacks
Y- Y-raise (superman position)
Our Treats
Now that you have the tools to burn some calories it is time to learn how to treat your body to some sweet, yet healthy snacks. Healthtrax has compiled a few Halloween treats to try post-work out or at your upcoming Halloween event.
Green Apple Monsters: Reduced-fat cheese, organic peanut butter, pumpkin seeds, candy eyes and green apples are all you need to achieve this monstrous snack. Take a look at the full recipe here.
Benefits: Green apples can help you promote bone strength and density.Frankenstein Kiwis: What is Frankenstein’s favorite cheese? Muenster. Take out your pretzel sticks, kiwis, dried blueberries and enjoy!
Benefits: Kiwis are known to support heart and digestive health as well as strengthen your immunity.
Banana Ghosts: Can you boo-lieve how easy these goodies are to make? Create this healthy snack with just three ingredients: bananas, vanilla yogurt and mini chocolate chips.
Benefits: Bananas are rich in a variety of nutrients and antioxidants.
Halloween is the perfect time to incorporate some tricks and treats into your everyday routine. Healthtrax can help you get into beast mode with personal training, group fitness, aquatics and virtual classes. Become a member today!