12/11/2023
🎉 Holiday parties. 🍨 Traditional desserts. ✈️ Trips. 🍱 Traditional family dishes. 🍷 Alcohol. 🤭 Temptations.
Continue to think about your goals . . . on purpose and with intention! As a wellness coach, I can only impart my authentic and honest thoughts on the holidays. Fun time of the year, actually my favorite. It’s family time, friend time, work parties, social hours, trips, special outings – all of those things that contribute to commUNITY, social life and connection. It’s definitely an important aspect of total health.
With that, I don’t believe good health takes vacations. Fun can still be had while still considering your overall well-being. I do believe in balance, but I do know, from my own personal experience that over indulgence leads to regrets. So be aware, and honest with yourself - - don't give in just because it's easier (our pleasure center thrives here - human nature). Some tips below 👇 - hope this helps! I'd love your thoughts and feedback! 💭 Do any of these help you?
✅ Drink up on water - all day. Consuming water before a holiday meal (30 minutes prior) helps with portion control.
✅ Eat some protein before the parties (we feel full longer) and it may help in portion control as well.
✅ Eat to plan "most" of the day. DO NOT go to a party hungry.
✅ Get plenty of rest - - it helps with reducing sweet and salty cravings.
✅ Definitely get your planned workouts completed and if possible, add more movement in your day (an extra walk, an extra workout). But realize that you can NOT exercise away the food that you eat.
✅ Definitely DO NOT skip any meals because it's easier to overindulge at the parties when blood sugar drops from not eating.
✅ If you "have" to have sweets, take a bite without eating the whole thing to satisfy that holiday habit - so don't totally deprive yourself, but SET A LIMIT in advance.
✅ If you "have" to have alcohol - try a less calorie type drink with no sugar/syrups. OR, try carbonated water.
✅ Bring a dish when applicable - something that you know is ok for you to consume.
✅ Think protein and complex carb for meals when traveling.
✅ Look ahead at menus and plan what is best to eat.
ADJUST your MINDSET that you are not depriving yourself, but creating a new lifestyle that does include a healthier approach to the holidays, heck, to living! BELIEVE that you can reach your goals and remember to line up the action to get to them. Enjoy every single party, every single get together, every single tradition - - just consider moderation and utilize the tips above.
In health,
♥️ Jacquese