How to Survive the Holidays

With the holidays fast approaching, Let's talk about how to survive them and stay on track while doing so.

You're in the middle of a challenge, you’re trying to lose weight, and… BAM! it’s the holiday season and there are SO MANY TEMPTATIONS. Parties, food, sweets, alcohol, food, sweets, alcohol…. You get the picture.

The first thing you should be focusing on is to be setting realistic goals. The holidays are oftentimes a crazy source of stress for many people.  Trying to prioritize your health and fitness during the stress of the holidays can lead to a variety of emotions and feelings of restriction when it comes to those treats that are staring at you.… it can lead to an even more stressful and less than enjoyable holiday season.

I’m here to tell you that you CAN enjoy your holidays without sacrificing all of the hard work you’ve put in. There is a way to find a balance. Remember... this is a LIFESTYLE.

Parties, treats, and relatives coming in from out of town...  these things will always be a part of your life. You need to figure out a balance and how to handle certain situations while giving yourself a little grace and kindness. You also need to understand that you probably shouldn’t binge eat all of the Thanksgiving leftovers… or those Christmas cookies and fudge that your friends or family brought for you.

I’m not here to tell you that you should resist any and all temptation this holiday season. What I AM saying is that you need to go into the holiday season with a plan. Know that Thanksgiving is one week away and stay on track until Thanksgiving day hits. You have a structured plan right now… stick with it. The days leading up to the holiday should stay as close your normal routine as possible. You wake up, have your coffee, eat your breakfast, and get your workout in.

You can decide to give yourself the day.. Or if the day is too much... Give yourself the meal. Know your limits. Recognize that “thing” that always throws you off track. Maybe it’s the wine, maybe it’s all of Grandma’s pies. Maybe it's all the stuffing. Whatever it is.. Recognize it and have a plan in order to exhibit will power to stop yourself from going overboard. Enjoy it while you can but know when to stop.

There is another aspect of the holidays that one must tackle… the peer pressure… the judgment… the nasty passive-aggressive comments. “Oh she’s on a diet… That’s why she can't have any”. “Just have ONE” “Come on… it's the HOLIDAYS”. These kinds of comments can get to anyone… they're hard to ignore, but you MUST ignore them.

Now’s the time to work on your dialogue. Stop saying the words “I can't” because the reality is you CAN, you are CHOOSING not to. Use the word “choose” instead. "I am choosing not to eat that right now". "I’m choosing not to stay out late because my health has become a priority to me and that one thing will derail me". Be honest. People can’t argue with honesty. Not to mention, you become empowered when you start standing up for yourself and your goals.

Talk about SERIOUSLY putting yourself first. Think about the example you are setting for all of those people.

My last tip for you is to make sure that you get right back into your routine the day after. Allow yourself to have that day... but the next day make sure you're right back on it. You’re hitting your macros, you're following your plan, you're back to your routine. Don't let ONE DAY derail you for the entire holiday season. The last thing you want to do is be a glutton from Thanksgiving until the New Year.

Keep your goals in the forefront of your mind. Don't let yourself lose sight of what you want and where you want to be simply because the holidays are here.

Enjoy yourself, enjoy your treats, enjoy your family. Happy Holidays.