Is Black Friday the healthiest day of the year?

Everybody knows Black Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year, but what you may not know is that it may also be the healthiest. Skeptical? You should be. But before you dismiss this theory altogether, consider the following:

You get an early start. Many people attribute success in any endeavor to getting an early start, and there is no earlier start to Black Friday than right after Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday afternoon.

You walk—a lot. Walking is great exercise, and the average Black Friday shopper walks 17 miles that day (or so I’ve been told). What a great way to burn off excess calories from pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, turkey legs and gravy.

You run—a little. Quick, athletic, energetic bursts are good for your overall fitness. They are also good for your wallet. So sprint toward that rack of big screen TVs—you are well on your way to a fitter you!

You stretch. Stretching is essential for injury-avoidance and muscle health. Door-buster just out of reach? Get on your toes, stretch out and grab it! But be careful and buddy-lift those heavier items. Who doesn’t like exercising with a friend?

You might engage in hand-to-hand combat. Boxers, martial artists and wrestlers are widely regarded as some of the fittest people on earth. You can be like them, even for just one day. Grab that last “hot toy of the season” at the same time as another shopper? You may need to wrestle for it, which in theory could get you into better shape.

You exercise your mind. You scan the advertisements, you plot your strategy for the day, you remain patient in endless checkout lines, and you drive like a participant in the Indianapolis 500, dodging people and cars alike. All good things for keeping the mind sharp.

You save money! When you save money, you feel good. When you feel good, you are happy. Happy people tend to be healthy people.

By now you should be totally convinced that Black Friday is, in fact, the healthiest day of the year. Never mind the stress, sleep deprivation, fast food meals and caramel macchiatos that often accompany all of these otherwise healthy activities. Come to think of it, perhaps the day after Black Friday—Sleepy Saturday—is the healthiest day of the year.