The Holiday Hamster Wheel
Every year I silently eye-roll at the Holiday Hamster Wheel…. For 3 months we’re barraged with commercials and ads pushing cookies, cakes, candies and cream laden-cocktails, only to be followed a couple months later by a barrage of weight-loss services, Cleanses and gym commercials. I mean…. really?
For whatever reason we associate food with celebration, and not just any food – food that isn’t usually healthy for our insides nor our outsides. I remember getting really annoyed one year, thinking that the dry cleaners had shrunk my Christmas dress. Yeah. It wasn’t the dry cleaner. I’ll leave it at that.
Here’s the good news!
By making just a few simple adjustments – we can easily enjoy the holidays and keep the waistline nice and tight too! So, without further adieu – here are……
7 Ways to Keep it Tight during the Holidays
1. Stick to Your Regular Work-out Schedule
Choose to keep your regular workout schedule. Think of that time as “non-negotiable” vs something you’ll skip if something else comes up. The most I’ll ever do in the event of a true time commitment crunch, is to workout at another time during the same day. BONUS: Aside from keeping weight in-check, sticking to your workouts will really help to keep you feeling grounded, calm, less stressed and just…….freaking good. That’s a bonus for you and everyone else, yes!?
2. Stick to Your Regular Diet……at least most of the time
Lol – you didn’t think I was going to tell you not to have a Christmas cookie, did you?! ;-). My point is, just be mindful by sticking to your regular healthy diet, the majority of the time. Focus on getting enough good Protein and Fiber in your meals. This really helps curb hunger and stabilizes moods. Needed during holidays, right?!
Have a Christmas party later that night? Here’s the plan:
+ Eat healthy & clean during the day
+ Have a healthy light dinner before, so you’re not starving by the time you get to the Par-tay!
+ Hone in on a few your favorites and enjoy them. Eating healthy during the day and having a light healthy dinner prior is key. You won’t feel deprived but you also won’t feel like strapping a feed bag to your face at the dessert table.
3. “Drink Me While You Christmas Shop!! Watch the non-alcoholic drinks
During the holidays it’s so easy to literally drink your way into blaming the dry cleaner for shrinking your clothes – and I’m not just talkin’ cocktails. Pumpkin spice & Eggnog lattes, Peppermint hot chocolate – while deelish, obvi – are pretty much the same as eating a dessert. I love the Starbucks Pumpkin spice latte – it’s just screams “drink me while you Christmas shop!!” So, I consider that my indulgence for the day. I know – I’m just a party waiting to happen.
You get the idea. No one’s saying “drink water instead” – I mean, those types of people just cannot be my friend. I jest. Sort of. My point, and I do have one – is just be mindful that all of the cozy Christmas drinks we love to have while strolling around the mall enjoying the pretty lights, are actually like a dessert. So if you’re having one – just chill out a little on something else. Y’know?
4. Staggering Your Alcohol – Pun intended.
This is the time of year when it’s totally normal to have Holiday Parties several nights in a row, which usually means…..cocktails baby! So heres’ the deal….alcohol, aside from being caloric, also leaves us feeling hungry for good ole’ fatty yummy foods. On top of that – we also tend to eat more than we usually would – especially at a holiday party where it’s already fun and exciting. I’m totally telling on myself.
Here’s what I do: I mentally pick the party where I want to have a few cocktails, which for me means about 3. That’s “my night.” I also steer clear of drinks that are a “Barf-Fest” waiting to happen – like made with creams, whipped cream, sugary etc. Instead, I’ll have champagne, wine or a martini. Something without a lot of sugary ingredients. I know, 1st World Problems.
For the other parties that week, I’m totally fine having just 1 glass of wine or sparkling water for the night. I have just as much fun, plus wake up feeling great the next morning, less moody, and ready to get in a good workout.
Clearly my parents ignore the alcohol rules. Sigh… ;-/
5. Keep Treats Stored & Out of Sight
You know how Chefs always say “you eat with your eyes first“? True! Like, even if you’re totally not hungry, but there’s a plate of your favorite homemade fudge sitting on the countertop just staring you down, taunting you like “Whassup girl? You want a piece of me? C’mon now.” FINE! I’ll show you – I AM GOING TO EAT every last bite of you!” Grrrr.
That’s me. Completely. Instead, I’ve learned to store all the goodies I’ve baked, out of sight. Put them in airtight containers and store in the pantry or fridge. It really helps to curb the tendency to mindlessly grab a few every time you pass the kitchen, lol.
Well….. sometimes it helps. Unless my sister’s over. Then all bets are off.
6. Get Plenty of Sleep, 7-8 hours a night
Getting enough good sleep (7-8 hours a night) is probably one of the most underrated health, wellness, weight & beauty benefits there are. Lack of enough sleep actually contributes to weight gain because we are hungrier, consume more calories and exercise less when we’re tired. It’s also been linked to lower metabolism. So…… get your ZZZZ’s!
7. Weigh Yourself in the Mornings
Yeah I know – but here’s the thing. The truth is powerful, lol. Keeping tabs on where you’re at really, really helps with staying track, if feeling gross and chunky as the season gets into full swing is something you’d rather avoid. You can still have just as much fun – seriously. I know how much I generally like to weigh, where I feel my best. If the scale starts to creep up a few pounds past that – I just know to reign it in. Easy as that 😉
Just implementing these 7 minor tips will make a big difference not only in curbing weight gain, but almost more importantly in the enjoyment of the holidays! I mean, when eating pretty healthy and working out per the usual – you’ll automatically feel more joyous, grounded, calm and happy, and isn’t that ultimately what we all want?
Happy Holidays!
