It’s that time of year
again…time for fun, food, and visits with friends and family. While this can
be a joyous time shared with the ones we love, for many people it can present a tremendous challenge in keeping or building healthful habits. Something that we always
talk about is the importance of having a solid routine, so that even if you do
get off track, you have the habits built in to go back to your normal routine
which keeps you looking and feeling your best.
What makes this time of year
particularly difficult is that the “routine” can get thrown off from a number
of different directions. Between holiday parties, family coming into town,
going out of town, and leftovers, there can be a lot of stress and anxiety as
we work to maintain all that we have worked for in the previous year.
That is what this article is
all about; helping you to survive the holidays, not by locking yourself away to
avoid all temptation, but by taking a practical approach and planning
ahead. Here is the plan:
1) Don’t expect miracles. This
is not the time of year to focus on losing 20 pounds in the next six weeks. While
that is completely possible, it is not likely, and you have to take a realistic
look at your situation. If you have a pretty slow holiday schedule and
you can focus on your goals, then yes, continue to work toward your goals. But
if you have 15 parties lined up and are traveling two or more times, then maybe
just maintaining the progress you have made this year is the goal.
2) Be consistent with exercise.
In the end, the holidays really only consist of three main days of celebration,
with one or two days around each that may impact your normal workout routine.
That means that over the next eight weeks, MAYBE seven of the days you would
have normally worked out will be impacted. No problem--there are still 35 other
days that you can get your workouts in! Add to this that there is time to
at least go for a walk any day of the year, and you could still make staying
active a priority (even 10 minutes can make a difference) and not be impacted
by the holiday season.
3) Focus on portions, not food
items. Yes, there are benefits to avoiding certain types of food, and if you
have an allergy or sensitivity then by all means skip the gravy or
potatoes au gratin. If not, when the day comes and you sit down to eat, forget
all the rules and enjoy your meal. Again, Thanksgiving and Christmas are only
two days, and even if you have a post Turkey-Day brunch, or a Christmas Eve
dinner, that is still only four meals. Enjoy the food! Just be conscious of how
much you eat. The best way to do this is to truly enjoy your food. Eat slowly
and savor every bite. Extend the meal not by going back for seconds and thirds,
but by slowing down and enjoying the first plate more! By doing this, you will
get more out of the meal while feeling full faster, and won't end up feeling
like a stuffed turkey all night.
4) Pace yourself. While you will most likely drink, you do not have to have two glasses of wine finished before dinner even
starts. Just as it is beneficial to slow down as you eat, slowing down your
drinking can be helpful. You could start with a drink, sip on it for a
while, have a glass of water once you’re done, sip on that for a while, and
then go back for your second drink when you sit down for the meal. You can continue alternating drinks and water through dinner and the rest of the night, or, even better, switch to something else after dinner. If this sounds
like it is a huge change from your usual holiday drinking routine, then just
think about how much you usually have throughout the night and cut it down by a reasonable margin. Your body will thank you for each drink you pass up, so even one less can make a difference.
5) Take time for yourself.
While it can be wonderful spending time with friends and family, we can easily
forget to find time to just be. Taking five to ten minutes to relax, quiet the
mind, and just breathe can provide energy and a mood boost when things are
getting a little crazy.
6) Life is not a game of
perfect. No matter how hard you try, there is no such thing as perfect. You
will not be able to stay on your diet 100%, you will not be able to prepare the
perfect dinner, your Christmas lights will inevitably have that one bulb that
has gone out, and whatever you have planned for this holiday season will not go
exactly as you have it pictured. This is just how life is and it is important
to be okay letting things go and seeing the best in everything. There will be
good times and there will be stressful times, but in the end what is important
is that you are with the people you love and that you are able to keep yourself
feeling good. If you can focus on these two things, you will be setting yourself
up for a great holiday season and giving yourself a head start in the New Year.
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