I hope you had a great Thanksgiving break and that you were able to catch up with family and friends while enjoying some amazing food and fun times. I had a really great time with my family and even got to catch up with a friend I hadn’t seen in a while. Some highlights of my holiday: Motorcycle ride with my dad, Black Friday shopping with my little sister, a couple Skype sessions with my sister in Ghana, great conversations with my mom and spending lots of quality time with my hubby.
And now … it’s Monday. The holiday is over and we’re back to the real world (at least until Christmas.) This time between holidays is crucial. It’s essential that we don’t lose the momentum we’ve built toward being healthy. You may have a ton of catching up to do from your days off and things can get crazy fast. To help us all get back on track, I want to share a plan for getting back to being healthy after the holidays. Because, let’s face it: Christmas is less than a month away and they’ll be a whole new batch of cookies to conquer.
Since I took some “relax time” from my normal healthy eating and fitness habits, I want to ensure I avoid old, bad habits (See my 5 Tips to Avoid the Cravings Monster post.) It’s completely possible that the Cravings Monster will have something to say about this plan but I don’t care. I’m going to get back on track right away because I LOVE how I feel when I’m eating healthy and investing in my health.
I hope you’ll join me in getting right back to being healthy. You can do it!!
Here’s what I’m doing and please share any additional ideas/strategies you have in the comments below …
- Set Goals and tell someone about them. Yesterday I decided on some goals for this week: I will not have any sweets except fruit. I will make a focused effort to eat at home and spend time in the kitchen to get my cooking habits back in place without the temptation to compromise because healthy food isn’t on the restaurant menu.
- Be strict until you’re back on track. Not much needs said here. You’ve made your plan. You are stronger than you give yourself credit and you can do this. It’s worth it!
- Wake up early. This is an important step because it gives you enough time to prepare for your day. If you’re rushed, you’ll most likely make a less-than-healthy food choice.
- Plan your meals (even loosely). Think through what you’re going to be eating for breakfast, lunch and dinner. What are some easy, healthy options you can make that keep you full and taste great? Visualize your meals and write them down so that you at least have a base and idea of where you’re heading this week.
- Get groceries. This requires time, I know, but you simply have to get out there and stock up on healthy options. When I’m getting back on track, I stock up on convenient healthy options (like fruit and LaraBars) so that I have something quick/rewarding when I need it.
- Avoid eating out. I mentioned this earlier and the reason it’s so important to do this is because when you eat out you are way more likely to compromise your healthy habits. There’s bread before you eat, sugary drinks, sauces and even the potential of desserts. AVOID.
- Drink lots of water. Flush the sugar and unhealthy stuff from your system by drinking lots of H2O. Chances are you’re dehydrated from less than healthy food or drinks and water can help you reset that. Read about some benefits of drinking water.
- Keep fruit handy. I’m completely eliminating added sugars (including honey and maple syrup) in order to get my mind and body back to where I need it to be. I’m allowing myself as much fruit as I crave in the interim. Once my body and mind adjust, I’ll naturally go back to my 1-2 fruits a day.
- Work out. Even if it’s just 10 minutes a day, you will feel so much better if you do this. Get those good vibes that working out provides and you’ll be less likely to want the sugary high from unhealthy foods.
- Getting inspired. Read, join and engage in an online community, “pin” inspirational quotes on Pinterest. Surround yourself with positive reinforcement and inspiration to get help you gain momentum.
What tips would you add to this list?
~ Kate