With the holidays coming up, it’s easy to forgo healthy choices in favor of temptation.
We’ve all been there, and TBH, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, you should eat that extra cookie or help yourself to another serving of mashed potatoes during Thanksgiving. That’s what the holidays are about, right?
But, when the clock strikes 12:00 a.m. on January 1, 2021, most of us are eager to get our health back on track.
So, if you’re already thinking about trying to stay healthy this holiday season — or you want some tips for when 2021 rolls around — we’re here to help you out.
Don’t Beat Yourself Up
No matter if you’re on a strict diet or you’re just trying to stay healthy, don’t beat yourself up if you get off track this holiday season. It happens, and it’s OK.
Acknowledge that you’ve gotten away from your goals (or maybe just had too many sweets) and try to focus on tomorrow instead. There’s no use dwelling on the past or what you did the day before.
No Crash Diets
Don’t try and make up for your month of bad eating by forcing yourself to do a crash diet. Sure, you may lose a little bit of weight, but it’s only going to cause you to have an unhealthy relationship with food moving forward.
Too many people try to cut out sugar completely after the holidays or decide they’re only going to eat vegetables and chicken. Trust us, this is not the way to go.
The only way you’ll be able to continue on your lifestyle change is to create healthy food habits that last.
Instead of cutting out an entire food group, start with making one simple change. For example, if you have a soda habit and drink a soda a day, try to only have one a week.
Or, if you tend to eat a bag of chips while watching TV, try having a healthier snack instead (like nuts, vegetables, etc). As these changes start to become habits, it’ll be easier to make even more changes in your life.
Find an Accountability Partner
If you’re ready to get back on track, find someone else in your life who is ready to do the same.
Maybe it’s a spouse, partner, friend, or family member, but whomever it is, make sure they’re just as motivated as you are. Share your goals with one another and focus on holding each other accountable.
For example, if you and your mom both want to start going to the gym five days a week, use each other to get you both there.
You’ll be less likely to flake out because you know your accountability partner is showing up.
Set New Intentions
Sit down and write a list of things you’d like to achieve in the new year. It doesn’t matter if it’s as lofty as “Run a marathon” or as simple as “Read 20 books,” but whatever it is, make sure it’s specific.
For example, don’t just write “Get fit” or “Stop eating junk food.” We’re actually 42% more likely to achieve our goals if we write them down, so grab a pen and paper and get to work!
