Before I get into this post, I wanted to I wanted to take a moment, to let you know, to me, this is not about weight loss, this is about feeling your best even throughout a season filled with lots of treats and indulging. You can feel your best all year long. Feeling great throughout a season that can cause us to loose sight of our healthy lifestyle is possible. For many years, this time of the year caused me to have a lot of stress and anxiety over trying to stick to my “diet”. I was always trying to be perfect in a world where perfection is simply not possible. However, I finally figured out a way to enjoy myself around food while still feeling my best. No more good and bad foods, no more binge and restrict.
I cannot wait to share my tips and tricks with all of you.
I know the holiday season can be quite stressful for many reasons, but your health and fitness shouldn’t be one of them.
For years, I struggled to find a balance between indulging during holidays/vacations and staying on track with my health and fitness goals. I would restrict and binge only to feel awful afterwards. It was not a good feeling. I hated the way I felt at the end of the day or week. I hated myself for losing control. It destroyed my confidence. It was a vicious cycle, one that I needed to bring an end to. I hated feeling defeated after vacations and holidays.
Macro counting solved that problem for me. I began my macro journey at the beginning of December 2016 with fat loss as my initial goal. YES, you read that right, I began on a mission to lose fat throughout the hoilday season and I succeeded. Actually, I not only succeed I thrived and my life began to change forever.
Success happened because I figured out how to balance my treats/fun foods with healthy meals and snacks. I began to figure out what worked for my body. It really is that simple. Macro counting is like Tetris, you simply make it all fit together, no two people will be the same.
Over the year I have learned a few tips and tricks to keep you feeling your best on your health and fitness journey throughout holidays and vacations.
Tips for Staying on Track:
- Prioritize protein. Make protein your main focus at each meal and snack. Most indulgent foods are high in carbs and fats.
- Drink your water. Water will help to flush out any excess sodium you are intaking throughout holidays and/or vacations.
- Choose your treats wisely. I say this with a kind heart. Do not waste your macros/calories on mindlessly eating M&Ms or chips. Save your carbs and fats for whats truly worth it, such as your grandmas apple pie or a special potato dish. Don’t waste your macros on things you can enjoy anytime of the year. I am big on asking myself is this worth it? If the answer is no, don’t finish it.
- You don’t need to clean your plate. Read that again. Remember if you have a few bites and that’s enough you can be done. Do not feel as though you need to eat an entire piece of cake or finish everything on your plate. Once you are finished clear your plate from the table. Don’t tempt yourself.
- Eat mindfully. Eat slowly, take the time to savor the flavor of your food. Focus on what you are eating. If you feel satisfied after a few bites, be done, call it quits and move on.
- Focus on the people you are with, not the food. This one is big one. I have spent so many years fixated on the food, worried about what each bite was doing to my body. Feeling as though I was gaining weight simply by smelling something high in calories. I know crazy, but I truly missed so many meaningful moments because I was focused on the food. Instead, focus on the people you are with and enjoy yourself. Enjoy your conversations, take in those special moments.
Bonus Tip: Try to get some movement in throughout your day. This can be as simple as walking, completing one of my videos, etc. Find a movement that is enjoyable and move your body. It’s really that easy. As I always saying being healthy shouldn’t be overly complicated. Just love your body and treat it right.
For years I tried to find balance and some days I still struggle, but these simple tips have helped me make more mindful choices and at the end of the day I feel so much better, mind and body.
I hope these tips can help you throughout this time of year and all year long.
Finding peace in our health and fitness journey is truly finding freedom.