How to Get Back on Track After the Holiday
As I sit here writing this, I must confess….I am finishing off the rest of the pecan pie Matt’s aunt made for our Thanksgiving feast yesterday…..
Topped with whipped cream…
And I don’t feel the least bit guilty about it!
 |
| My sweet family |
I love this newfound healthy lifestyle I began a couple of years ago, and I believe in it!
But I also believe that stressing over food and not enjoying ourselves at the holidays and on special occasions is NO way to live.
So, with that last sliver of pie, I round out my Thanksgiving splurge.
My challengers and I had a fun little challenge for our feasts. We committed to eating only 1/2 cup of whatever foods we wanted to on the holiday.
So what now?? Personally, after I eat a little bit of sugar, I want to eat it a LOT. I seriously have to go through some type of detox where I rid my body of it which also rids my body of the cravings.
So, for me, I am starting the 3 Day Refresh on Monday along with some friends of mine. It is nothing extreme, or all liquid based or anything that leaves me in the bathroom for days. It’s a reasonable three days of cutting back on carbs and sugars and eating real food in addition to my Shakeology.
One thing I am committed to NOT doing is chucking my nutrition to the wind just because it’s the holidays. Do you know how much weight the average person gains during the holidays? 7-10 lbs.
And I know I could gain that in a week if I didn’t control my eating habits. It may not look like it, but I gain weight incredibly fast! So I stay committed to this. And as much as I love food, I love how I feel when I’m honoring my body by fueling it properly. My mind is clearer; I have more energy; I am at peace with how I am honoring God by taking care of this only temple He’s given me.
But maybe a 3 Day Refresh is not something you want to try.
And of course, after the 3 days, what will happen next for me? Here are some of my tips to make sure you get back on track in your nutrition or maybe even to help you just get started once and for all.
1. Get your exercise in FIRST thing! I know it’s tough if you’re not a morning person, but I promise you that your body can get used to it. Now, you don’t have to get up at 4:30 a.m like me, but if that’s the only time you have, commit to it! Go to bed earlier. Set three alarms. Lay your workout clothes out the night before. Just do it! Commit to doing it for a week and see how much easier it becomes. It feels awesome to know it’s done, and it always gets my mind set for success in my nutrition as well.
2. Plan out your meals. You don’t have to do this for morning, lunch and dinner, unless you are just feeling all in. Just plan your dinners. That tends to be the area most people struggle with knowing what to eat or running out of time. Plan your dinners, grocery shop for them and do a little prep like chopping your veggies. It eliminates excuses for drive-thru meals, and ensures your family is eating good food as well. I am starting Week 3 of Core de Force, and I have my meal plan ready for next week. It’s simple and includes the refresh. I just have to shop for it and do some prep come Sunday!
3. Buy some new workout gear. (All the ladies reading this are shouting YES!) But really; what motivates you to stick with something more than being about to go out and buy something cute. It’s Black Friday. There are tons of deals, and there are likely to be for another week or so. Get a new pair of kicks. Or some new workout pants. My favorite sports bras are these, and they come in the cutest patterns! And they’re $12.50…. come on! That’s a steal!
4. Pray over it. This is last but certainly not least. Until I invited God into my health and allowed Him to motivate and guide me, I was a complete failure. Total yo-yo dieter. Start and stop kind of gal. Can you relate? I picked up Made To Crave by Lysa Terkeurst on a whim when I started the 21 Day Fix in May of 2014. I had no idea God would use it to convict me and guide me on so many levels.
I realized
a) that I was trying to do this all on my own.
b) that everything I need to gain control of my health and my whims was living inside me through Christ’s power.
c) that I just needed to ASK for help!
It’s a little embarrassing to admit that I needed reminding of this, but it’s the truth.
So that’s it! That is my plan and my tips for getting back on track! If you would like more support and 1:1 guidance, please let me know! You can email me at janzenmitch@outlook.com or leave your info below and I’ll get back with you this weekend.