My top 3 solutions to taking control during the holidays.
The holidays are just around the corner, and we celebrate them by enjoying delicious treats. We don’t want to miss out on all of the festivities. Temptation can wreak havoc on your diet and fitness plan.
Temptation is everywhere!
First are the office parties, and then the treats everyone brings to share. They sit in the kitchen, tempting you every time you need to refill your water or get a cup of coffee. They seem to call your name, even when you are not in the room.
You cook an elaborate meal for your family, but you have to taste everything before serving it. So you’re already full when you sit down at the table, but you still have to eat with the rest of the family! Then you visit friends and don’t want to disappoint them, so you at least try all of the delicacies they made.
Your waistline is already starting to grow, and the pants are getting tighter. On top of that, you feel lethargic because of all the sugar, fat, and extra alcohol, and to top it all off, you are not exercising as much as you normally do.
Oh no, it’s happening.
Already you feel guilty and disappointed about your lack of self-control. You think, “Darn it, there goes some of the milestones I reached!” You almost lost all the weight you had planned on losing at the beginning of the year. You had your nutrition and exercise program under control…until now. Thinking that, okay, another year, another diet, and hopefully, you can get in shape fast.
But wait, you notice that “help” is on the way everywhere you look. You read about these “quick weight loss” programs: the bulletproof diet and the juice cleanses. All of these diets offer to shock your system into losing the weight you gained during the holidays. Your friend offers to sign you up for her diet group. Phew saved, and you continue eating.
You know that this coming year it will work, right?! This year you keep to all those crazy rules. You just hope that the diet you picked will work for you and get that weight off quickly.
Do you know what I say? Stop dieting!
Stop feeling like a failure because you can’t stick with them. Don’t try another fad diet and be disappointed yet again.
But wait, just take a minute and ask yourself:
What if there was a better way than dieting?
What if I didn’t have to feel guilty during the holidays?
What if you did not set yourself up for disappointment each and every year?
I am not saying throw caution to the wind and go for it. Instead, I suggest solutions to change unhealthy thinking habits and take control of your life and the holidays.
Another Year. Another Diet. Another Disappointment.
# 1 Gauge your desire
Don’t just go for it. Wait a moment and think about what you are going to put into your body. Get a clear idea of how important the food is to your health. Ask yourself: Why am I eating this? Is it good for my body? Does it give me energy?
# 2 Assess your brain message
Is your brain telling you that you just can’t live without eating this treat? Are those urges and impulses real dietary needs?
The brain plays tricks on us when it comes to smell and certain food colors (shades of red signal your brain to eat, it’s why all those fast food places you love are painted red/orange/yellow!) Stop before you follow your brain. Slow down and assess what you’re about to eat (and eat in moderation!). You know what you are doing if you really think about it.
# 3 Refocus your attention
Redirect your focus on healthy nutrition patterns. Focus on wholesome and productive activities, despite false urges. Make the best choices you can given the situation you are in. Focus on how delicious a salad, dressing on the side, tastes, and its satisfying crunch.
You may not make the perfect choices during the holidays, and that’s okay. But you don’t need to feel deprived or disappointed at the end of December.
No need to try another crash diet at the beginning of the year.
You will not feel disappointed about your lack of self-control because you choose what is good for you.
If you want to try something different, check out how I combine Intermittent Fasting strategies with Pilates exercises that are ideal for beginners. Click the link and learn more.
