We all know the holidays can throw a wrench in your otherwise healthy routine. It’s easy to get caught up and overindulge at gatherings or skip a few workouts here and there. Sometimes, the holidays even make us forget our workouts altogether. Come the new year, some of us feel defeated and back at the starting line of our health and fitness journey.

Don’t want to face the post-holiday slump this year? You’re in luck! Below are 7 tips and tricks to help you stay on track and guilt-free this holiday season.

Plan Ahead

Think ahead about what you can do to indulge, but not go overboard. This might be deciding you want to enjoy Aunt Marge’s stuffing while passing on grandma’s famous pumpkin pie or, decide you will have smaller servings of both. Going in with a plan will keep you from getting caught up in the moment.

Listen To Your Body

If your stomach is telling you that you are full, listen up and STOP eating. The general rule of thumb is that it takes up to 20 minutes for your brain to register the food in your stomach and signal that you are full. Make sure to grab small, reasonable portions when you fill your plate and wait 20 minutes before going back for round 2 if you still feel hungry.

Remember Your Goals

If you want to stay on track it’s important to keep your goals top of mind. Consider leaving a post-it note with your goals in places you will see them regularly. The truth is, anytime you’re working toward something, you will have to be willing to make some sacrifices. That can mean waking up early to get your workout in, or saying no to dessert or drinks at one gathering so you can enjoy them at the next. 

Don’t Deprive Yourself

It’s okay to indulge a little – life is about balance! Balance leads to consistency, and consistency leads to results.

Don’t Show Up Hungry

Make sure and eat a balanced breakfast and lunch before your holiday dinner. Our Pumpkin Spice Overnight Oats or our 3 Egg Veggie Omelet each make for a healthy breakfast option. For a balanced lunch, consider trying our Cobb Salad. The key to creating nutrient-rich meals is to incorporate lean protein (think chicken, black beans, eggs, or tuna), healthy fat (like olive oil or avocado), and carbohydrates (such as grains, fruits, or veggies). Nourishing your body throughout the day, prior to your holiday event, will keep you from showing up overly hungry, which could l lead to a lack of self-control.

Get Your Sweat On

Try and get a workout in before the festivities begin. This will set the tone for the day and leave you less likely to overdo it on the treats. Click here for our library of great pre-festivities workouts, or here for our 16-minute tabata!

Give Yourself Some Grace

Perfection isn’t possible. If you overindulge, the worst thing you can do is try and make up for it by working out harder or restricting. This only leads to more overindulging. Let it go and jump right back on track. Consistency is where change happens!

Enjoy the holiday season, you deserve it! Show up for yourself, treat yourself, and love yourself!

About the Writer
https://www.thelavenderlifestyle.com/

Ashley Rice and Jocelyn Gaddie

Sisters, best friends, coaches, and most importantly, moms! Between the two, Ashley and Jocelyn have experienced it all – crazy on-the-go life, being a working mom, a stay-at-home mom, pregnancy fitness, postpartum fitness, fad diets, nutrition struggles, and more. Both sisters are NASM Certified Personal Trainers and certified nutrition coaches, also holding a B.S. in Nursing along with years of prior RN experience. The Lavender Sisters Created TLL to help women step into their power and become who they were always meant to be, inside + out!