If you’re anything like me, this time of year brings a roller coaster of healthy and not-so-healthy “binges.”
You’re plugging along, eating well, exercising, getting enough sleep when…Thanksgiving hits.
You take a breath. You pull things back together when…Christmas!
Okay. Cool. Ate too many reindeer cookies. That’s okay. I’m back on track now…
NEW YEAR’S!!
It’s a never-ending feast, recover, feast, recover cycle…for nearly two months!
How ‘bout we do it differently this year? You and me both.
Check out my super-easy strategies for smoothing out the ups and downs…so you can have fun, but not so much that you hate yourself in the morning. 😉
- Eat a nourishing breakfast to set yourself up for smarter choices during the day. Even if your lunch and dinner plans are hijacked by holiday revelry, you’ll be in better shape if you give your body quality fuel first thing in the morning. Here are some ideas for a quick one (and here’s why breakfast is so important).
- Stay in control of your choices by carrying healthy snacks with you, no matter where you are. It’s really the only way I know to stave off impulsive choices, especially when temptations are EVERYWHERE. Nuts, apples, bananas, cut veggies (like carrot sticks), edamame, and dates stuffed with almond butter are some of my favorite portable snacks. I also like fruit and nut bars like Larabar, Kit’s Organic Bar, and Kind Bar.
- Try really, really hard NOT to skimp on sleep. You’d be amazed what a good night’s sleep can do for your appetite. Here’s a whole post on why sleep matters so much for weight management; but suffice it to say that, if you do just one thing to avoid the holiday indulgence roller coaster, make quality sleep a priority.
- Keep you body moving with at least a little exercise. Even if you can’t stick to your regular workout schedule, do what you can to move for at least 10-30 minutes a day. Here’s a 10-minute workout I put together for you that might help. A brisk walk together after dinner (and before dessert 😉 is a holiday favorite in my family.
- Know your limits…and honor them. This one is really, really tough, I know; but it gets easier with practice. Tune into your body to learn what happens when it’s time to dial things back. Most people can pinpoint a couple of signs right away – like low energy, hazy thinking, uncontrollable sugar cravings, or unhappy digestion. The trick is to notice them…and do something about it before you get too far down the path of overindulgence. It’s sometimes helpful to write down what you feel when you’ve let things get out of control (i.e., where in your body you feel it), when you feel it, and how you feel each time you honor that feeling and course correct. Positive reinforcement, ya’ll. 🙂
- Don’t beat yourself up for “mistakes.” There are NO mistakes here! There are literally no “mistakes” when it comes to self-care, only choices. Sometimes those choices serve us well; sometimes, not so much. That’s all. There’s no reason to ever beat yourself up for one tiny little choice among the thousands (millions?) of choices you’ll make during your life. Acknowledge that you made a choice you weren’t thrilled with…and let it go. Being kind to yourself gets you closer to a different choice next time than labeling yourself naughty ever will.
So what do you think? Which one or two of these strategies really resonates with you? And which ones can you get on board with for the holidays? Tell me in the comments.
I’ll be right there with you, all the way to New Year’s.
P.S. Keep your body moving during the holidays with my friend Erin Stutland. She believes that movement in your body creates movement in your life…I couldn’t agree more. Check out Erin’s free Say It, Sweat It, Get It Challenge. You’ll love it. (And by the way, I rarely promote other people’s stuff, so you KNOW it’s good! 🙂
Holiday hugs,
