Holiday weight gain is not about the food
Practice Mindfulness.
During this holiday season, regularly check in with yourself about why you’re eating. When you tune in before you take a bite you might learn a lot about your motivations. You could be truly hungry. Here’s a hint: does plain turkey or tofu sound good (assuming you like turkey or tofu)? If so, you’re probably actually hungry. On the other hand, you might find that you’re stressed from the holiday bustle or anxious about interacting at a party. Or you might find that the holidays are bringing up challenging emotions like loneliness or loss. If you discover you’re eating to soothe stress, anxiety or emotional pain, you open up the freedom to take care of yourself in other ways.
Mindfulness is not about policing yourself. It’s actually positive and freeing! If you fine-tune your mindfulness skills, there is no need to change lifelong holiday recipes or follow strict dieting rules. Go ahead and have some of Nana’s stuffing หากคุณสนใจเล่นพนันออนไลน์ที่ดีที่สุด สามารถสมัครสมาชิก UFABET ได้ที่นี่ พร้อมรับโปรโมชั่นพิเศษสำหรับสมาชิกใหม่ in all its fatty-carby goodness and you’ll truly enjoy it, feel satisfied, and move on. Mindfulness lets us savor and take joy in what we choose to eat. We can also ditch the guilt from having mindlessly plowed through a pile of treats to try to manage our stress or feelings only to find that we didn’t even stop to enjoy the experience. That’s the worst!
Prioritize your holiday favorites.
Right now, sit down and make a list of your most treasured holiday foods. The ones you remember from childhood, that amazing challah from the local bakery, your killer cranberry sauce. You’ll know what they are. Maybe even note who makes the best version of your top contenders. Then vow to enjoy them in their highest quality versions this season. Really stop and savor them. Then say no to treats that aren’t on your list, or even to your favorites when they’re second-rate.
Prep before you party!
If you head to a party ravenous, there often isn’t enough mindfulness in the world to stop you from grabbing the first available food you see. What I often do is have a pre-party at home with some veggies and guac or hummus before I head out. This is great for two reasons. First, it takes the edge of my hunger so I can practice choosing the high-quality foods that will truly bring me joy. Second, it makes sure I’ve gotten my veggies that day, in case there aren’t any veggie options at the party.
Stay hydrated.
Winter can be a dry time, and sometimes we mix our signals and eat when we’re actually thirsty and dehydrated. Start with a glass of still or sparkling water first thing and then see how you feel. Rehydrating can help replenish your energy and focus to make the food decisions you want to make.
Practice self-care.
Here’s the thing. You don’t have to go to every holiday party you are invited to. It sounds counter-intuitive, but if you say “no” to more holiday events and obligations, you may have a more fun and festive holiday season. Think about your priorities and make sure the things you say “yes” to align with them. If they don’t, you’ll start to feel stressed, overwhelmed, burnt out and spread way too thin. And then, you may find yourself back at the buffet, fighting off those pesky cheese blintzes.