This week I am revisiting last year's "8 Questions on Diet and Exercise" for Santa Claus. Santa has been spreading joy and happiness in North Idaho and around the world for a very long time. Santa has had a lifelong passion for good health, exercise and nutrition. Santa holds many records including the fastest time for the most chimney climbs in a 24-hour period and one of the fastest sleigh-to-roof transitions ever seen.

Q. Let's start with a basic question. What workout regimen do you use to prepare for what must be a physically demanding time of year?

A. Well that's a very good question. It is a physically demanding time with a vast amount of climbing, carrying heavy bags and running from place to place. In the off-season, the reindeer and I run a lot of backcountry trails at the North Pole. Of course, one of my elves is a Certified Personal Trainer so she helps me stay focused in the gym.

Q. Nutritionally, it must be difficult to be given access to so many amazing cookies that the kids leave out for you. How do you manage your cookie intake?

A. Well, I approach it like you would for any endurance race. When you know you have a long demanding race you need to fuel up. Cookies are an amazing way to maximize the amount of glycogen stored in your muscles and Mrs. Claus reminds me all the time that poorly fueled muscles are associated with needless fatigue this time of year.

Q. Santa, I had heard you are an avid fan of Zumba? How do you find time to work that into your busy schedule?

A. Zumba is very stimulating and I am fond of the catchy Latin beats they use for music. Plus, Zumba is a very fast way to squeeze in a heart-pumping cardio workout in less than 40 minutes. I must admit my belly sometimes moves left when the rest of me moves right, so it does become a bit awkward for me. Those Zumba instructors go pretty easy on me though, since they want to stay on my nice list... Those Zumba instructors need a lot of help in that department.

Q. So what is your favorite and most difficult exercise program?

A. A few years ago, my elves introduced me to Parkour. This is where you develop the physical skills to effectively jump, climb and roll through obstacles without aid of ropes or climbing gear. This is quite a workout, but very good for me since I must scale so many roofs, slide down chimneys, dodge wires and other hazards while delivering toys to all the good girls and boys.

Q. Now Santa, you're not a young man anymore... how do you avoid injury doing all this physical activity?

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Santa talks diet and excercise