Practicing What I Preach
If you’re having a season like mine, you might relate to the sensation that the holidays are “catching me by surprise.” It’s really not that I can’t read the calendar, but this year so many other things are pulling at my awareness that the days seemed to “get away from me.” Ever had that experience?
It is in such stretches of living that I endeavor to apply the coping skills I offer others, or more simply “to practice what I preach.” I stop regularly just to breathe, I listen to my body (so it doesn’t have to yell at me); I make sure I move enough (music helps), I connect to my community, I put pleasing thoughts into my mind, and
I remind myself that beneath the feeling of frenzy that nips at my heels,
it is well with my Soul ~ and that’s what counts.
A friend recently shared this article by Stephanie Burg on “Staying Healthy During the Holidays” and I want to pass it on. Many of us want to indulge ourselves a little without getting completely off track, and it can be a tricky balance. Here are 7 tips to help you do just that!
If you do get bit by the sugar bug this year – never fear! You can “Kick Your Carb Cravings” with me in January. Check out all the details here.
How do we balance enjoyment with self-care so that we’re able to celebrate AND feel great at the same time? These seven steps assist our bodies in getting back on track quickly, so we can eat the foods we love without the guilt:
1. Hydrate as much as possible.
Holiday meals can be heavy on flavor and high in salt, causing bloating the next day. Remembering to hydrate all day long helps to flush the body of excess sodium. Try placing a glass of water beside your bed at night, as a reminder to hydrate first thing in the morning. If you don’t like the taste of water, you can add seasonal spices like cinnamon sticks, star anise and clove, to add flavor and a little holiday flair. And, lemon is always a winner in water.
2. Balance sugar cravings by eating sweet vegetables.
Delicious, starchy, refined carbs are often highlights of any holiday feast, but the more we eat them, the more we crave them. By incorporating more sweet vegetables, like roasted carrots, sweet potatoes, onions, beets and winter squash to our meals, we provide our bodies with additional fiber to help ease digestionand curb sugar and carb cravings after indulging.
3. Start with high-quality protein.
Beginning with breakfast, choose protein-rich meals to strengthen, sustain and balance your body throughout the day. Try a quinoa porridge with fresh, seasonal fruit, a couple of eggs, or even some leftover turkey to fire up your metabolism, keep you energized, and leave you less susceptible to overindulging.
4. Eat leafy greens.
Leafy greens help strengthen the immune and respiratory systems, and, according to Chinese medicine, provide us with an uplifting energy to help create positive moods. Kale, collards, spinach, lettuce and bok choy help us withstand holiday indulging by providing added fiber to move digestion, and loads of nutrients to balance any poor food choices we make. To incorporate leafy greens, try a morning green smoothie, or make a kale salad or big pot of collard greens to bring to your holiday gathering.
5. Move!
After a giant meal, we’re more likely to curl up in front of the TV for a nap than exercise. After a few days of heavy eating and being sedentary, our bodies respond with a desire for more naps and more food — it’s almost as if we build a tolerance for it.
By choosing to incorporate some type of movement each day, we not only help our bodies use the additional calories we’ve taken in, we keep our metabolism running so we don’t pack on extra weight. Add a morning walk the day of a big meal; try some light stretching each night before bed; grab your houseguests for an afternoon jog — whatever your preferred type of activity is, don’t skip it during the holidays.
6. Shift your mindset.
If you choose to indulge, be OK with it. Many of us, eat something “unhealthy” or “fattening” and feel guilt or shame about it long after that particular food is gone. The residue of negativity lasts far longer than the food stays in your system, so be gentle with yourself. Trust that your body will recover. Allow yourself the opportunity to truly enjoy these foods and let them go. You’ll bounce back much more quickly if you choose to savor your choice without regret.
7. Make space to nurture yourself.
Allow a bit of time each day for self-care. Consider bookending your day with a morning and evening ritual that allows you to decompress and re-connect with what’s important to you. You can try meditation, yoga, journaling, a gratitude practice — anything that helps you feel a sense of grounding within.
May it be well with your Soul,