Staying Healthy Through The Holidays
The holidays are upon us. The decorations have been in the stores for two months and the plans are being made for office parties, family get-togethers, parties with friends, etc. The holidays are a time to celebrate and enjoy time with friends and family. However, if you are trying to get your health in order or even just maintain all the hard work you may have already put in, it can also be a time that derails our efforts and motivation. Without a plan you may find yourself thinking or saying things like, “what’s one more small cookie?” or “what’s one more drink?”, or worse, “I guess I have messed up so bad, I will just start fresh with the new year.” Don’t be that cliché. Not this year! If you can make it through the holidays successfully taking care of your health, you will have just set yourself up to go into a new year strong, confident, feeling good and knowing you can tackle one of the hardest times of the year for maintaining health standards.
So, how do you do it? How do you stay on track? You need a plan, a strategy! A strategy means you aren’t “winging it” and makes it a lot more likely that you will stay on track with your health and wellness goals throughout the season. Here are seven strategies to help you not only stay healthy through the holidays but enjoy them as well.
1. Set realistic goals. Consider your challenges and weaknesses and set goals that are attainable. For example, if you are losing weight, don’t go into the holidays with a goal to lose 2 pounds a week (unless you avoid all parties and have more of a grinch-like demeanor). Instead, set a goal to maybe just maintain the weight you have already lost. You will be ahead of most if you can go through this time with no weight gain at all.
2. Plan your meals. Know today what you are eating tomorrow. That way you are never caught off guard and left to rely on willpower alone – which will likely fail you when you are really hungry. Incorporate healthy and balanced options with a lot of protein and healthy fats to help you feel full and satisfied longer. If you are going to a holiday gathering with food, try bringing a nutritious dish that you enjoy eating to share with others.
3. Practice portion control and avoid temptation. Avoid mindless eating or snacking. Don’t hang out right by the finger foods and snacks at a party and don’t even bring them into your home. Consider eating a healthier meal at home before you go somewhere you know will likely not serve healthy food options. When you do indulge in a special treat, focus on keeping it small.
4. Stay active throughout the holidays. Incorporate physical activity into your holiday routine and aim to do this daily. Exercise will not only keep you on track, but it can help motivate you to overcome other obstacles and can help manage stress in a time that many people experience it.
5. Don’t expect perfection. Enjoy some holiday sweets but keep them in moderation. Try to opt for healthier desert alternatives (I will be posting several “healthier desert” options on the website and the Instagram page throughout the season). And finally, when baking, choose healthier swaps for certain ingredients.
6. Get enough quality sleep. Without the proper amount of sleep each night (7-9 hours for adults), your decision-making skills will drop significantly, and you are bound to cave to cravings and make poor food choices so make sure you are prioritizing your sleep!
7. Consider getting an accountability partner to help with motivation. Sharing a health goal with a friend or family member (especially one who has similar goals during this time) can help encourage each of you to stay on track and provide motivation. Likewise, remember that those who are not trying to achieve these goals may try to inadvertently trip you up. They don’t want to feel bad about the choices they are making after all.
As you navigate through the holiday season, remember to go easy on yourself. Don’t let one mistake or deviation from the game plan mess up your plan for the whole season! Becoming healthier is not a race and it does not have a finish line. It is about constantly trying to do just a little bit better each day than you did the day before and not letting mistakes along the way stop you in your tracks. Stay positive and focus on the aspects of the holiday season that go beyond food. Enjoying time with loved ones, taking part in holiday festivities, and creating lasting memories can all contribute to overall well-being! For more on how to transform your health, “Follow” me on Instagram and “Subscribe” for free at the bottom of any of the website pages to receive the weekly blog posts and exciting upcoming information and news! (thehealthandwellnessnp.com) Together, let’s transform your health!