2022 has been a year to say the least, it feels like it was January just 5 minutes ago. With the holiday season fast approaching that means lots of get togethers and a lot of foods that you may not normally eat. Instead of waiting until the new year to “get back on track” keep reading to learn how you can stay on track even during the holiday season.
1. Don’t Deprive Yourself
I do not believe in deprivation. My approach has always been moderation over deprivation. What does this mean? It means that if you want to have a couple holiday cookies, eat them. What I have found from past experience is that depriving myself of things I enjoy (I love sweets) typically results in me consuming more than I usually would. A couple cookies while watching holiday movies will not be a game changer in any way.
2. Follow your usual eating routine
If you usually eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner stick to that routine. The point here is to not “save yourself” for dinner because doing this results in you being ravenous by the time dinner rolls around. You can consume smaller breakfast and lunch portions, but if your body is used to eating breakfast and lunch each day don’t skip.
3. No is the beginning and end of a full sentence
Back when I worked in an office I always tried to avoid all of the sweets that were brought in during the holiday season. Reason 1, I never wanted to get in a habit of sitting still for hours on end and consuming sweets. Reason 2, I am not very trusting of baked goods brought in from random peoples homes (germaphobe). With that said, I had to learn to politely say no and be ok with being assertive when people got pushy. Remember, no is a full sentence that does not require an explanation.
4. Do not beat yourself up
It is so easy to get into a cycle of eating holiday foods and treats then feel bad for doing so. This is such a negative and vicious cycle that I really hope you will avoid. 1 day of indulging does not mean you’re off the “healthy wagon”. If you have a day that is an off day be sure to follow up the next day with healthy meals. Life is all about balance.
5. Get your steps in
There is no doubt that the holidays are a busy time with lots of things on the to do list. A few hacks I have for getting extra steps are parking further away, taking the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator, and walking around the mall as I holiday shop. If you live in a colder area like me turning on a YouTube steps video is another great way to get in more movement.
The holidays are a time for being merry and enjoying yourself, but holidays are not just about eating all the things. Remember to enjoy activities with your family that include stepping away from the table. There are so many fun things to do during the holidays like ice skating, going to a holiday market and walking around with a hot cocoa, and taking a long walk to spend time with your loved one(s).