5 Tips for Keeping Up With Your Health & Nutrition Goals This Holiday Season
The temperature’s dropping, the leaves are changing, and the smell of pumpkin-spice-everything is in the air. And we all know what that means: The season of eating is upon us.
Don’t get me wrong—I love fall! Cooler weather is great for exercising outdoors, the colorful foliage is stunning, and it’s hard to beat a hearty fall stew as far as I’m concerned. But with fall comes Halloween candy, Thanksgiving feasts, about a bazillion holiday parties… You get the picture.
Have you started preparing yourself for the months ahead yet? Are you ready to take on the season of eating?
If you’re like most of us, the answer is probably a resounding, “Nope!” If that’s you, that’s okay! It’s not too late to set yourself up for success when it comes to staying healthy, watching what you eat, keeping up with your exercise routines, and not packing on the pounds this season. Here are a few of my go-to tips for staying on track and not just getting through this tricky time of year, but actually continuing to work towards your goals!
1. Remember: Flexibility is a necessity.
There are two super extreme ways to approach the season of eating: the “it’s time to indulge!” mentality, and the “I’m on a diet” mentality. If you know anything about my particular brand of health and nutrition coaching, you know I have a very basic philosophy: DON’T DIET. It’s important to keep track of your nutrition during the holiday season, but don’t forget to leave yourself a little wiggle room. If there’s a particular recipe/type of dish that you crave all year long, go ahead and let yourself enjoy it! Just don’t enjoy it every day for months on end. 😉
2. But remember this, too: There’s always an excuse to go off plan if you’re looking hard enough.
By the same token as that last tip, we have to be realistic about what varying levels of “flexibility” might mean for our overall success. There’s a difference between planning ahead of time to go off-plan versus finding any and every reason to stray from our nutrition plan. During this season, there will be dozens of opportunities to treat yourself. Try to pick just a few rather than going off plan every time a coworker offers you a cookie.
Are you feeling sore and want to reduce the sources of your inflammation?
Or maybe you are tired of always feeling like your clothes are too tight when really it’s just the fact that you are bloated.
Registered Nutrition Coach, Dawn McGee has put together a simple and straightforward, 7 Day Detox Guide that will not only reduce inflammation and bloat but also prep your body if you are wanting to continue releasing stored fat.
Click the button below and we will send you your free workbook for your 7 Day Detox.
3. Always eat before attending a party.
Heading to an office get-together? Your church’s holiday gathering? Your best friend’s cocktail soiree? Don’t forget to eat ahead of time! Sate your appetite with a balanced meal of lean protein, carbs, and healthy fats before you leave home. You can still snack on a couple hors d’oeuvres if they look especially good, but this strategy will ensure that you don’t overeat.
4. Get your seasonal foods fix with in-season veggies instead of holiday sweets.
Sure, fall and winter are the perfect times to enjoy a variety of pies, cakes, cookies, spiced beverages, and mulled wine. And like I said in the first tip—if there’s a particular dish you especially look forward to every year, you should absolutely enjoy it! But in a lot of instances, you might be able to scratch that seasonal food itch without actually having to go off-plan. For example, you could try baked apples with cinnamon instead of apple pie. In lieu of pumpkin cookies, you could try a pumpkin soup or butternut squash stew. Swap your Starbucks chestnut praline latte for a protein shake made with chai spice or cinnamon. Don’t be afraid to get creative!
5. Ditch the guilt!
This one is simple, but SO important. There will inevitably be days when you eat too much junk food, have an extra cider or two, skip your workout, or forget to make time to recharge your batteries. No plan is perfect! The best thing you can do for yourself this season is ditch the guilt and begin each day with a fresh start and a sunny outlook. No matter how far off-plan you accidentally stray, it’s always possible to get right back on track—so don’t waste your time and energy feeling bogged down by guilt or regret.
What challenges do you struggle with the most this time of year?
Whatever obstacles usually get in your way, I promise you—you’re strong enough to overcome them! Preparing for the season of eating starts with checking in with yourself, getting real about the shortcomings that have held you back in the past, and crafting a plan to do better this year. I hope these tips help you head into the season of eating with confidence!
Have a Happy & Healthy Thanksgiving!
Dawn
DAWN MCGEE
Dawn McGee is a certified and licensed Nutrition Evangelist and a long-time foodie, she focuses on both the health and joy of food as fuel for your body. She is a driving force in bringing education on healthy eating to more people through her community, my “Reclaim Your Life, One Bite at a Time” programs, and my book “365 Days of Healthy Living”. Her hope for you is that you live a life you love, without being hungry, feeling deprived, or giving up your glass
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Are you feeling sore and want to reduce the sources of your inflammation?
Or maybe you are tired of always feeling like your clothes are too tight when really it’s just the fact that you are bloated.
Registered Nutrition Coach, Dawn McGee has put together a simple and straightforward, 7 Day Detox Guide that will not only reduce inflammation and bloat but also prep your body if you are wanting to continue releasing stored fat.
Click the button below and we will send you your free workbook for your 7 Day Detox.
