How to Deal with Black Friday Sales This Weekend! #Expert #Recommendations Guest Blog!

Here are a few tips from top fitness, nutrition and medical experts for staying healthy and stress-free during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. We have not one guest blogger but two- both MD’s who are happy to share some of their knowledge and expertise so that we can be well and healthy at the end of the weekend as well as NOW. It’s important during this crazy weekend to take good care of ourselves.

Dr. Michael A. Gleiber, a South Florida Board-Certified Orthopedic Spine Surgeon www.michaelgleibermd.com

Dr. Susan Stuart, San Diego’s board certified dermatologist, www.lajollaskin.com

Shopping Can Be a Pain the Neck (and back)

Thousands of Americans sustain winter-related back injuries every year, including many injuries directly related to holiday activities such as shopping. According to Dr. Michael A. Gleiber, a South Florida Board-Certified Orthopedic Spine Surgeon, standing on long lines, carrying heavy shopping bags and even sitting at your desk in front of your computer for prolonged periods of time surfing the retail web sites can definitely cause low back, neck and shoulder pain or worsen an existing back problem. www.michaelgleibermd.com

ü Shop during the off-peak hours to avoid having to stand on long lines and walk through crowded areas.

o Leave your designer shoes at home. Wear comfortable shoes with cushioning in the sole to absorb the impact of walking on hard floors. And although Ugg boots have become a go-to winter footwear, unfortunately, these shoes do not offer proper support. “Ugg boots are designed like slippers. Meaning, as the foot slides around, you get wear and tear on the joints on the inside of the foot,” says Dr. Gleiber. The ankle is in the wrong position, the thigh bone also changes position, and you get an abnormal movement in the pelvis, which leads to back problems.”

ü Carry a small sized handbag if you’re planning on an all-day shopping trip. “Inside a typical handbag, you may find a phone, iPad, wallet, makeup bag, a bottle of water, book or magazine,” says Dr. Gleiber. “They seem like little things, but they add weight – up to 10 pounds and carrying all that weight can cause shoulder and neck pain.” According to Dr. Gleiber, when it comes to fashion, putting extra weight on one side of your body is one of the biggest back pain causes. Any time you carry weight on one side of your body for an extended period of time, it causes your spine to curve, and that leads to back pain symptoms. Choose a bag that you can wear diagonally across your body rather than a single-strap bag that rests on one shoulder. When you can’t avoid using a single-strap bag, be conscious of changing the sides you use to carry it.

ü If you’re planning on checking off everything on your holiday shopping list on one visit, make sure not to carry too many heavy bags at once. Distribute the weight of shopping bags evenly, and avoid carrying bags for too long. Walk back to the parking lot and drop them off in your car – make sure to lock them safely in your trunk!

ü If you’re going to skip the department stores and malls this year, and take advantage of Cyber Monday, sitting in a chair for prolonged periods of time can definitely cause low back pain or worsen an existing back problem. The main reason behind this is that sitting, in a chair or in general, is a static posture that increases stress in the back, shoulders, arms and legs, and in particular, can add large amounts of pressure to the back muscles and spinal discs. Regularly stretching shoulders, hips, and hamstrings will increase your flexibility, offering instant relief and preventing back pain. Dr. Gleiber recommends taking mini-breaks when you’re shopping online. “Proper ergonomics is also important. A simple adjustment to your chair height could be the fix you need to end your back pain; and never hunch over a computer. Focus on aligning your head and neck right above your shoulders and avoid straining forward. Ideally, your mouse should be placed right next to your keyboard so you don’t overreach or twist your shoulder, arm, or wrist when clicking.”

Long lines at the counter, dry stuffy mall air, too much Cinnabon snack breaks—they’ve all made holiday shopping a real beauty challenge. Here are Dr. Susan Stuart’s, San Diego’s board certified dermatologist, beauty on-the-go tips for looking (and feeling) fresh while holiday shopping. www.lajollaskin.com

ü Escalator handrails, ATM keypads, restroom door handles. Anywhere people gather is filled with bacteria and viruses, and a crowded shopping mall is a perfect example. “Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs,” advises Dr. Stuart. “If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.”

ü Washing your hands frequently is key to protecting yourself from germs, but it wreaks havoc on your skin’s moisture level. Wash your hands with cool or lukewarm water and use a mild soap. Pat your hands dry and then use a moisturizer right away to restore any moisture lost. If you wash your hands a lot throughout the day, consider replacing some of those washings with a hand sanitizer. The alcohols in sanitizers do dry out skin, but often not to the extreme that soap and water can.

ü Big crowds, artificial heat – malls are severely dehydrating so a refreshing hydrating spray is a great product to have in your purse. It refreshes and hydrates your skin while smoothing the surface and revives your makeup if you’re wearing any.

citrus_spray_150ml-cont

o Recommended Product: Michael Todd’s Citrus Spray/Facial Mister. Scented with real citrus essential oil for a delectable fruity boost, Citrus Spray hydrating mist is a personal beauty lifesaver. This wonder mist balances and replenishes the skin without ruining makeup so it can be used any time as an instant pick-me-up. Go from looking tired and lackluster to bright and dewy in seconds. www.michaeltoddtrueorganics.com

Thanks to Dr. Michael A. Gleiber, and Dr. Susan Stuart for their tips and expertise. Better to take good care ahead of the event then spend days trying to recover!

Stevie Wilson,
LA-Story.com

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