The Holidays. A time for giving, sharing, loving and spreading cheer, right? In theory. So why is it that so many of us find our holiday season sounding more like this: eat, drink, stress, eat, drink…You get the picture. It stares you in the face come January 1 when you resolve to take off the weight you gained, stop drinking so much and get rid of the dark circles under your eyes.
Why do we sabotage this potentially beautiful, joy-filled time of year with myriad shopping trips, parties we go to with a sense of obligation, and forced family comraderie? The season may be much more merry if you can vow to keep it simple!
EAT: The Holidays present a multitude of tasty temptations including traditional family goodies, holiday party appetizers, obligatory baking and opportunities to gorge even while sitting at your desk. However, it is possible to keep it simple if you can create a few guidelines for yourself. For example, stick to fruit, vegetables, and lean meats for main meals. This will ensure you are receiving proper nutrients, which will decrease cravings. Indulge in those special treats you only find during the holidays. A chocolate chip cookie, though tempting, is available year-round while Aunt Linda’s Homemade Pumpkin Bread may not be. Lastly, always ask yourself if you are hungry before reaching for anything. You alone are responsible for what you put into your body and when. Once you have committed to a guideline, stick with it 100% of the time. The moment you deviate, you will most likely continue to do so unless you either have someone to hold you accountable or make a conscious decision to recommit.
DRINK: Often, the holidays mean we are put in social situations where alcohol is readily available. We go from 2 glasses of wine a week to 8 with relative ease. And don’t even get me started with the calories one mug of spiked egg nog can pack! In order to avoid the extra holiday pounds (and a few morning headaches) examine each coming week and decide on a number of libations that sounds reasonable and stick to your plan. It is far more likely you will exhibit control if you have a plan in place to do so.
BE MERRY: Despite all the excess food and drink, stress can be the number one contributor to your weight gain. Ask yourself where the stress originates. Is your family situation awkward? Do you worry about finding a gift for everyone you have ever known? Do you have to plan the “perfect” holiday party each year? Once you identify your triggers, there are a few simple tricks to avoiding the stress or dealing with it as it comes. Firstly, if it is avoidable, avoid it. If crowded malls make you nervous, set yourself up for success by shopping early or exclusively online. If your family insists on making the holidays stressful, you can opt out or suggest an alternative. This may sound ridiculously simple. That’s because it is, though I am often surprised at how many times I find myself and others setting themselves up for failure. Taking the time to think about your triggers can be cathartic in many situations and especially helpful with the added pressures of the holiday season. In those times however, when stress creeps up on you, take a moment to close your eyes and imagine breathing into your heart. Focusing on basic words such as “inhale, exhale” can bring you to the present moment and out of the stress. Or bringing in “peace” and letting go of “fear” with each breath can assist you in welcoming the feelings you wish to have and releasing those that are not serving you. Remember that stress is almost always caused by living in memory or fantasy (i.e. past or future) and becoming present will immediately cause stress to melt away.
Allowing the beautifully simple moments of the season to recapture your attention can give way to incredible perspective, without the calories, hangovers, or headaches. Here’s to a season of beautifully simple moments.
L&G~
Erin
