The holidays can be a joyous and stressful occasion all at the same time. I always look forward to seeing my family and friends, and of course the food! If you are actively trying to lose weight, the food situation can be a little stressful. Leading up to the event you may be even thinking should I indulge? Will my progress diminish if I eat something bad?
If you’re someone who gets stressed about the holidays and going off plan, take a look at the key points below to help you get ready for the big day:
1. Evaluate Your Goals
Before you even start stressing about food that you haven’t eaten yet, take a minute to ask yourself a few questions:
Do you have specific health and fitness goals that require you to be a certain body weight/body fat percentage, for example are you a competitive body-builder prepping for a show or a power-lifter trying to make your meet weight? If that’s the case, then maybe you shouldn’t be indulging in this upcoming holiday and should save it for after your event.
Are your goals more recreational? If your goals are more recreational then it is okay to enjoy yourself for the day. Having long-term success with your goals is all about finding balance and remembering that one bad meal will not undo the last 100 healthy meals you’ve consumed. I always make sure to enjoy myself and indulge in something small on holidays.
2. Be Mindful of Your Indulgences
When I plan on indulging in something yummy at the holidays I’m mindful of what and how much I’m eating. For example, one of my favorite holiday treats is apple pie. I will normally indulge in one normal size piece; however, I will not eat half of the pie. If you plan on indulging, be mindful of your portion size. Try your best to only have one helping of your favorite treats.
*Don’t let indulging in one meal be your downfall for the next week or month – once you’re done with your treat meal get right back on track!*
3. Offer To Prepare Your Own Dish
This is one of my favorite tactics. At any holiday party or family gathering, I always offer to bring my own dish. Offering to bring my own dish helps give me some peace of mind in knowing that there will be one thing there that I can feel confident eating that won’t take me off plan.
4. Don’t Feel Guilty
Regardless of what you decide to do on the holidays, don’t let yourself feel any guilt! If you’re choosing to indulge and treat yourself, do so without any repercussions. It’s important to remember that one bad meal is not going to outdo weeks or months worth of progress. Enjoy your meal be in the moment and move forward once your done.
What’s your favorite strategy to get you through the holidays? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
