Nothing seems to test our willpower and commitment to healthy living than the holidays! I personally can’t think of any other time that offers such challenge and temptation! Anticipating the potential events and gatherings that will inevitably offer an array of fattening goodies can be stressful, but these 5 tips can help empower you to avoid too much regret in the New Year.
MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES IN THE DAYS PRIOR TO AN EVENT: If you know there is a Christmas party on a Friday, then Monday through Thursday be conscious of your food choices so you can splurge a little. This is also the healthier way to reserve calories; skipping meals thinking you can save calories for later is a big no-no! You will end up with low energy, be ravenous, could get intoxicated quicker than you planned, and it wreaks havoc with your metabolism!
ALTERNATE ALL ALCOHOL WITH WATER: This is a great philosophy anytime you’re having a few, because it prevents you from getting too intoxicated, dehydrated, and hungry! We all know how easy it is to make bad food choices when our inhibition and decision-making ability is impaired!
LIMIT YOURSELF TO ONE SERVING: If there are dishes you absolutely love, go ahead and indulge but it isn’t necessary to have an entire plateful. Take one scoop of mashed potatoes or one sliver of pie and here is the key: Mindfully enjoy it! Food is a sensory experience and never more so than the holidays! The smell of your Dad’s turkey or your Grandma’s bread evokes happy memories so when you’re indulging, take small bites and savor it!!
EXERCISE: This doesn’t give you a free pass to eat anything and everything but it does make you feel good about yourself, helps you adhere to your goals, and lowers your stress levels. High stress levels lead to cravings for high carb/high sugar foods. Also having lower stress levels aids in the mindfulness component because it helps you to relax and be present in the moment.
FORGIVE YOURSELF: This is a big one in my opinion, because overindulging can lead to guilt, which can quickly snowball into giving up completely! Bad decisions can happen in spite of our best intentions and it is ok- we’re human! But we have to be able to let it go and not to allow a one-time lapse turn into a routine relapse!
The holidays are meant to be a time of socializing with friends and loved ones, and there is no way to avoid events with tempting food and drink choices. But as you can see, it is possible to remain focused on your healthy living goals while enjoying this wonderful time of year!
Michelle Crean is a Certified Personal Trainer through the American Council on Exercise, a Fitness Nutrition Specialist through the National Federation of Personal Trainers, and also holds certifications in Kickboxing Fitness and Core and Functional Fitness. She lives in Springfield with her husband, two sons, and their dog Emily. You can follow her on Facebook here and check out her new website here.
