Navigating the Holiday Season with Intention
A common question when embarking on a health and wellness journey is how to shift your mindset when you feel yourself giving in to an “all or nothing”mentality.
The most important thing is remember your WHY.
Is it your goal to feel good in your body?? Perhaps you want to overcome years of digestive issues. Maybe you want to feel more at peace and start your day with a clear mind. It could be that you want to declutter your life and start charting a more meaningful path for yourself.
Try to dig as deep as possible to find your motivation for wanting to live a healthier life and then write it down. Oftentimes it is this disconnect from our original motivation that leads to us falling off the horse.
The number one concern people tend to have during the holidays is whether they can control themselves around food. Although there are plenty of treats available this time of year, it is important to indulge in moderation. Soon after you get the energy boost from sweets, your blood sugar levels drop quickly, causing you to want more sugar. You have the power to create your OWN narrative around food by honoring your hunger and tuning into your fullness scale.
The good news is, you can have your cake (or pie) and eat it too!
Instead of pure sugar, add in some protein or fat, like some peanut butter, almonds, or yogurt to elongate your blood sugar curve and help you make a more nutritious decision at your next meal. Do not be afraid to load up on lean proteins and whole plant foods at your other meals to stabilize your blood sugar levels as your willpower begins to wane.
Stay hydrated. It has been shown that when we are dehydrated, we reach for junky, salty, sweet foods. Not to mention the physical space water can occupy in your stomach. Want to mix it up? Try drinking celery juice or a detoxifying smoothie or an additional nutritious punch!
Take a break after your plate! Because your stomach lacks nerve endings, the brain relies on hormones to know if the body is full. Unfortunately, hormones can take 15-25 minutes to send their messages and complete their task. You can still go back for seconds, but maybe enjoy some conversation before making the decision to go back for more.
Finally, set your pantry and fridge up for success! The biggest thing here is knowing yourself - there is no one-size-fits-all answer. If you know you are a busy person in the mornings, try prepping a chia pudding or overnight oats the day before. Nuts, seeds, and veggies with dip take little to no preparation and have simple, whole food ingredients that will satisfy and fuel you between meals.
Most importantly, remember that the holiday season is a time to relish in the company of loved ones, enjoy delicious food, reflect on the past year, and set intentions for the year to come!! Indulging is part of the human experience and the holidays can be a wonderful opportunity to check in with your mind, body, and soul.
Link to Community and Holiday Preparation Videos:
Holiday preparation and how to honor our bodies (https://www.instagram.com/tv/CH8cj1AjsXV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link)
Ways of creating an environment (https://www.instagram.com/tv/CHqkH1yDz9y/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link)
Recipe Highlight:
Kelly Leveque’s chia flax pudding (https://www.instagram.com/p/CG2ujYmlFJL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link)
Journal Prompts (JPs):
Are there holiday habits in your life that aren’t serving you? What are they and what can you replace them with?
What new thing can you commit to trying out this holiday season? (I.E new recipe, honoring your body technique)
What are three things you're grateful for when it comes to your loved ones?
