If you are anything like me then you would be something like a Schizophrenic when Christmas time comes around. What do I mean? Well, I love Christmas. I love the lights, décor, smells, songs, weather, fashion, everything. But I despise the weight gain that seems to be automatically attached to the season. So I spend quite a bit of time enjoying myself immensely and then bemoaning my waistline soon after. What makes it worse is that there are also tummy issues to deal with after!
Well, I want to get out of this rut. I want to enjoy everything I love about the season and not have to suffer during the first few weeks of the New Year. So here are some things I have started to do this month.
Drink More Water
I’ve gotten into the habit of drinking more water than I usually do. Since I am not a soda fan at all and I don’t really drink alcohol that much, my beverages are limited to water, juices and wellness drinks. I only drink freshly squeezed or made juices (no powder or concentrates) and lots of water. Water helps naturally flush out toxins, it helps with constipation, it keeps the skin young as well, and it helps you eat less.
Eat Less
On the note of eating less, well, just eat less. Period. So I have started training to cut my portions in half. For example, if I see these special Christmas cookies that I love, instead of having four like I usually do, I take 2. I know, it’s still some calories and sugar but I said that I wanted to lessen the terrible after effects and still enjoy the season. Now is not the time to start a brand new diet. It just will not work given all the parties and the celebrations and, as mentioned before, all the seasonal dishes. But you can enjoy and do this in moderation as well.
Moderation
How do you do this? Moderation and Christmas are not words often seen in the same sentence. Well, it helps if you track your food. Not the overly detailed tracking with corresponding grams and calorie count that a lot of diet plans require. That would honestly be just too much work for me for the season. But taking down just what you ate for your basic meals so you can look back and see if you are eating too much already is good enough. I have started to do this and I must say it is working.
Be Mindful of What You Eat
Then, there is the food you choose to eat. I gravitate towards more fibrous dishes for many reasons, one being these really help my digestion. Two, I love crunch, color, and texture – and finally, I am not a sweets fan at all so the occasional cookie doesn’t send me into depression. Choosing more fiber-rich food will help anyone in the long run. There are a lot of delicious Christmas dishes that are high in fiber so thinking that you will have nothing to eat or serve is a myth. Starting your day off right is also important, which is why I have looked into dietary supplements such as Activated You Morning Complete. Getting that energy boost in the morning is so crucial, and getting all those nutrients in will definitely combat the sluggish feeling you can get over the holidays.
Relax
Stress is major party pooper. I can recall so many parties I hosted, not only Christmas parties, where I ended with a headache and not really remembering enjoying myself much. In fact, I stopped hosting parties for a couple of years because of this. I am not hosting anything this year and I am not saying become a hermit or stop party planning. Just organize, do manageable meals, do things ahead of time, and remember that it is a party so smile, laugh, and have fun.
How do you plan to manage your festivities this year?
Leave a Reply