6 hacks for a healthier Christmas

Dec 24, 2019

The festive season can be a challenging time to eat healthy and make time for exercise but the following hacks take very little time and will definitely limit the damage this Christmas!

1. Change your mindset around Christmas. Make it about the family, the fun and the friends rather than the food. We often associate the festive season with too much food, too much alcohol and weight gain but that's not really what Christmas should be about. Of course there is always going to be a lot of food but if we focus our attention on how we can have the best time with family and friends, rather than on what food we're going to eat, chances are we'll have a more enjoyable time and we'll feel better for it too!

2. Give yourself permission to eat whatever you want, but think of how it will make you feel in the long term. I don't believe banning yourself from having something is a good strategy as chances are, you'll crave it even more. If you authorize yourself to have anything and everything, the things you would generally consider off boundaries become less attractive.

3. Fill up on nutritious foods. Most Christmas meals are actually pretty balanced, if you stick with the turkey and add a serving of vegetables. I always make sure there's at least one vegetable dish on the table and I make a point of filling up half my plate with it before I have anything else.

4. Don't eat to people please. I know it can be hard but everyone is responsible for making choices for themselves and most adults will understand that your choices around food has nothing to do with them. And if they don't, chances are that the issue lies with them rather than with you.

5. See it as an experiment. Our relationship with food is often a reflection of the relationship we have with ourselves. It's a work in progress and it requires time to figure things out. Take it as an opportunity to learn about what areas you need to work on. Are you an emotional eater? Do you eat more when you feel bored? Are you a people pleaser?  

6. Skip the guilt. What you eat around the festive season matters a lot less than what you eat the rest of the year so give yourself a break if things don't go to plan.

There's always the new year to start fresh and kick your old habits in the teeth.

As a Health Coach I work with clients individually to help them develop a healthier lifestyle that is easy and enjoyable to maintain. You can find out more about the special 1 on 1 coaching program I am launching in 2020 here.

Merry Christmas!

 

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