The most wonderful time of the year is upon us again, and I am so happy that we have officially entered the holiday season! I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving and got the chance to spend time with your loved ones, either in person or via Zoom. This holiday season is certainly different from what we are all used to, but one thing that has not changed is the temptation of yummy treats hiding around every corner.
Between Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas/Hanukkah/your holiday of choice, there is a span of three months that seems to be focused on nothing more than spending money and eating food. It is very easy to lose track of your goals during this time of the year, but it is more important than ever to exercise willpower. We must find the balance between treating ourselves and continuing to take the necessary steps required to achieve the healthy lifestyles we are striving to create.
I am nowhere near perfect and will be the first one to say that the above statement is way easier said than done. I LOVE sweets!! Cookies, fudge, pie, OH MY! It is so hard for me to say no to any and all of these delectable treats. However, this year I am trying to hold onto the feeling of deep regret that I get every New Year’s Eve when I look back and realize I have let another year go by without accomplishing my goal of getting healthy. Too many years have passed with me knowing that I have not done everything in my power to achieve the lifestyle that I have always wanted.
Strive for progress, not perfection.
This year I refuse to feel this way. Although 2021 is just around the corner, we still have 30 days to make some serious progress. Below are tips and tricks that I am using in order to make the most out of the month of December:
- Don’t Forget to Exercise
- In order to help us combat this month’s elevated calorie intake, we must keep moving. Even if you have a busy day and can only fit in a 30-minute walk, that is better than not doing anything at all.
- Wake Up and Get Going
- Get your day stared earlier, especially if you are having trouble finding time to meal prep and workout. I love sleep just as much as the next person, but there are never enough hours in the day to get everything accomplished. Waking up at least 1 hour earlier can help you be more productive. I have recently started waking up at 5:30am and I have been able to get so much done during the day.
- Drink a Glass of Water Before Eating
- This trick can help you feel full and prevent overeating. Sometimes you aren’t hungry, you’re dehydrated, and your body confuses the feeling. Drink a glass of water and give yourself 15 minutes before diving into the fridge.
- Eat 1 or 2 Cookies – NOT the Whole Plate!
- It is slightly unrealistic for us to say we aren’t going to indulge at all in the next few weeks. One of my favorite sayings is “life is short, eat the cake”. Let yourself have a treat occasionally, but don’t overdo it (i.e. don’t treat yourself every day, don’t eat the whole cake, and be mindful of how much sugar you are consuming).
- Change Your Mindset
- Rather than saying “I can’t eat that”, change your thinking to “I don’t eat that”. These phrases are very different psychologically. “I don’t” can make you feel empowered, whereas “I can’t” can make you feel deprived.
- Be Kind to Yourself
- I cannot stress enough the importance of keeping your head up and staying positive during this process. You will find yourself feeling frustrated and overwhelmed a times but giving up will not make you feel any better. These feelings are completely normal and are always temporary. Breathe, drink some water, watch some Gilmore Girls (they will make you feel better I promise) and let the feelings pass. Stick with your plan and strive to make daily progress, no matter how small. Those little changes add up to big wins.
Please do not wait for the New Year to get started on your goals. Life is impossibly short, and if this year has taught us anything it would be that tomorrow is not guaranteed. Remember that you can always reach out to me via Instagram if you have any comments or questions.
Thank you for reading!
A year from now you will wish you had started today.
