You probably have leftover turkey and stuffing in the frig and maybe even family still in town. Perhaps, you haven’t stopped running around since last Tuesday with preparation for the biggest eating day of the year! While Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to reflect and appreciate all that we have in our lives, it can also bring on anxiety and guilt with eating and drinking binges. Do you have the feeling that all is lost with your heath and wellness goals and you might as well just LIVE IT UP till January 1st? If you’ve started the cycle of holiday binge eating, it’s not to late to bounce back. Here are a few pointers to help you start feeling better:
1. Pick Flat-Belly Foods.
Work papaya, yogurt and asparagus into your diet. Studies suggest that these items can help improve digestion and decrease bloat (i.e. the waistline bulge that, you swear, wasn’t there last Wednesday!). When choosing yogurt, opt for organic plain yogurt, which is more likely to contain “active cultures” that promote good bacteria in your gut than “fruit on the bottom” varieties.
2. Re-Set Your Metabolism.
Eat breakfast ASAP when you get up in the morning (within 90 minutes of waking) and wait no more than three hours between meals or healthy snacks.
3. Keep moving.
Now that the days are shorter and colder, it’s tempting to follow our genetic blueprint, hole up in a cave for the winter and let the metabolism slow to a crawl. Don’t even think about it! The combination of holiday food and the urge to hibernate can be lethal to the waistline. At the very least, get a brisk walk every day. And the older you are, the more likely it is that the holiday pounds are there to stay. Which means if you’re 35 and gain 2 pounds every holiday season and keep it there, you’ll have gained 40 pounds by the time you’re 55. And you 55 year-olds know exactly what I mean! Which leads me to another one:
4. Make A Mini -Resolution.
Why wait until January 1? Come up with a realistic fitness goal that you can keep between now and 2016. Nothing crazy — just enough to keep you active and conscious of staying in shape. Maybe it’s to do three strength workouts a week, or to run around your neighborhood a couple of mornings a week.
5. Consider a little detox. Pick a day or two, preferably a weekend, when you choose to eat very simply and lightly, say a salad, some steamed veggies and brown rice. Drink plenty of water and get some moderate exercise. This can help your body clean house a bit and help you be more aware of what you’re eating and drinking. But don’t do it on a weekend when you’ve got Christmas parties and a houseful of guests. If you don’t have a couple of days like that in the foreseeable future, choose high fiber foods and green veggies as often as possible.
6. Don’t Beat Yourself Up. Damage is reversible only if you don’t get down on yourself and go on another eating binge. If you had a flat tire, you’d simply fix it and continue on your journey! It’s important to take the same approach to your health and refrain from self-sabotage by continuing to binge out of habit or for emotional reasons. Remember, to slow down and take time for you and celebrate the season with a non-food stress zapper, like a pedicure or massage.
7. Attend a Weight Loss Retreat. Sometimes you just have to get away. Weight loss camps and retreats are gaining popularity for many reasons, but the biggest reason we’ve found, is that people want to get away from distractions and focus on themselves in a structured environment. Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone do the cooking for YOU for a week or more? Wouldn’t you LOVE having a team of professionals rooting for you to succeed and showing you how? That’s the beauty of fitness and weight loss camps, they give you the tools and environment to reach your goals.
