With the biggest sporting event of the year being held this year on Sunday, February 2 at the Met-Life Stadium, Super Bowl XLVIII fever is sweeping through New York and the Tri-State area. Along with the excitement surrounding the big game, however, comes the potential to indulge in a host of health-related trouble, including overeating, drinking too many alcoholic beverages, and remaining sedentary for twelve hours or more for pre- , game, and post-game broadcasts.

Fortunately, the YMCA of Greater New York--for more than 160 years NYC's fitness coach--is happy to offer these ten practical tips to help people stay fit while enjoying this American ritual:

1. Commit to a Morning Workout: One of the best things you can do to prevent inertia and overeating is start game day with a morning jog, run, or workout. Indeed, The New York Times recently reported on how a daily bout of exercise can help off-set the negative impact of overeating.

2. Count Your Calories: Before the big day, determine a reasonable calorie intake to help pace your eating of snack food throughout Super Bowl Sunday. "A big part of practicing restraint is about setting rules and parameters for oneself," says Lori Rose Benson, YMCA of Greater New York VP of Healthy Lifestyles.

3. Go Baked, Not Fried: Baked chips are delicious and have much fewer calories than their deep-fried counterparts. Veggie chips and plain, air popped popcorn also make good alternatives to greasy crisps.

4. Drink Water or Tea, Not Soda: Replace high-calorie/low-nutrition beverages like soda with water or unsweetened iced tea. If you will be drinking alcoholic beverages, make sure to limit your intake, try alternating alcoholic drinks with glasses of water, and never, ever drink and drive.

5. Go with the Grain: If you're serving crackers, bagels, or bread, opt for healthy whole grains.

6. Move!: Don't stay in one place for the entire day. Make a plan to walk to another location between pre-game and game time and at halftime.

7. Don't Sit Still: Whatever you do, don't remain sedentary on the couch for ten or twelve hours during Super Bowl Sunday. Get up and stretch regularly, perform seated exercises, and if you're fortunate enough to have a home treadmill or exercise equipment, try working out during pre-game shows or even the game itself.

8. Elevate Your Dip: Replace high-fat, high-calorie dips with salsa, humus, and/or yogurt-based dips. Fresh vegetables including carrots and celery sticks and slices of pepper and squashes make great, healthy alternatives for dipping.

9. Up Your Protein Intake: Instead of cookies and candy, try snacking on nuts, seeds, and trail mixes that are high in protein and healthy fats. Also consider munching on lean meats like turkey and low-fat cheeses and cheese sticks.

10. Join the YMCA of Greater New York!: There's one place in New York City where every activity reinforces one's commitment to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Starting on Dec. 26, all branches of the YMCA of Greater New York will be waiving the joiner's fee to make the Y even more affordable for New York City families! Learn more at www.ymcanyc.org.

While Super Bowl Sunday comes around once a year, there's one place New Yorkers can go year-round for fun, fitness, and family. To learn more about how to get involved and give back at the Y, visit www.ymcanyc.org.

About the YMCA of Greater New York

The YMCA of Greater New York is, and always will be, dedicated to building healthy, confident, connected and secure children, adults, families and communities. With a focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y nurtures the potential of every youth and teen, improves New York City's health and well-being and provides opportunities to give back and support neighbors. In scores of neighborhoods across the five boroughs and its camp upstate, the Y makes accessible the support and opportunities that empower more than 500,000 New Yorkers to learn, grow and thrive. Visit ymcanyc.org. www.facebook.com/ymcanyc twitter: @ymcanyc

YMCA of Greater New York
Ellen Murphy, 212-630-9699
emurphy@ymcanyc.org