Preparing for the Silly Season

"Tis the season to be jolly, falah lah  lah lah lah lah......" Really? Most of us end up super stressed and most of us are stressing about.....you guessed it.....food! We approach Christmas and it's aftermath with dread, we know we are going to have to face the Christmas lunch, leftovers, treats into the next week, New Year, oh whatever! May as well continue into January.......

It's almost as if a switch goes on as Christmas approaches. I deserve to take a break from my diet/healthy eating plan. I deserve to "treat" myself.

But if you really stop and think about it, is treating yourself this way actually in line with your new goals or your old habits? Is treating yourself this way, treating yourself well? Would it not be better to stick to your plan and not overindulge this year? "Yeah" I hear you say, "but that would be so boring. And everyone would look at me funny, and I'd miss out on that so yummy dessert Aunty Martha always makes."

I get that.....I too have the same thoughts (I am actually human!) so I have come up with a few ways to get through this season without totally destroying everything I have worked hard to achieve. These few ideas have helped me in the past and I hope they will help you too, so here goes:

1) Acknowledge that it will be harder than usual to keep to your eating plan, really have that conversation with yourself. If you are clear up front about what you will be doing this will stop the guilt afterwards.
2) When the (dreaded) day arrives allow yourself to relax and enjoy the day but try these few things to stop the overindulgence that leads to all the guilt - dish up less than you normally would, eat slowly, savour each mouthful, put your utensils down between each mouthful, enjoy the company, have conversation, allow yourself to have whatever you feel like, don't deny any food.
3) Keep hydrated, drink lots of water
4) Keep repeating this for each function you go to.

The two biggest things I would like you to remember are firstly don't beat yourself up. This leads to guilt which in turn causes you to throw in the towel because you have "failed".....again! And secondly, just pick up where you left off - if indeed you did have a break. Because maybe just thinking about it all in advance changed the way you behaved over this Festive Season.

Whatever happens, enjoy it! It really is the season to be jolly! I'll be enjoying myself, and I'll be around to help you with fitness and nutrition advice.

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