Author: Amber French
Get ready for 8 thousand articles about how to resist temptation over the holidays to hit your inbox, mailbox and Social Media stream…..
Here is one more!!! EXCEPT this one isn’t about resisting it is about accepting. We know we need to eat before the party to avoid overindulging, drink lots of water to fill up or graze on veggies to avoid the more calorie laden temptations. And once you have, you are left full (really needing to PEE), totally unsatisfied and staring all crazy eyed at the spinach dip.
Lets rewind to the morning of your Christmas party or family dinner and lets accept that today is going to be outside the norm as far as our healthy eating plans go. Let’s accept that we are going to eat more than usual and probably consume more calories than usual. So what can we do with the other 20 hours in our day (assuming you can tolerate your family for 4 hrs!!) in preparation for the evening’s events!!??
We can eliminate the horrible state that we work ourselves into by worrying about our over indulgences before the even happen. We can prepare for the shame game by focusing on what makes us feel good prior to.
Here are my tips for changing your heads space before and after the EVENT.
Get enough sleep the night before (or the afternoon before): Sleep deprivation cause over indulgence… FACT: our bodies crave sugar, fat and caffeine to “get us through” when we are staying up late or coming off a crummy night’s sleep.
Make sure your outfit fits: Seriously don’t force it if it isn’t working. Don’t spend money on “spanx” if your favorite little black dress is feeling dimply or snug. Dress in the present, don’t dress in the past. If a certain size or dress used to fit don’t force it. Instead plan on an outfit that allows you to sit, stand and mingle in comfort. Another Fact…Feeling “Fat” makes you over indulge and literally throw in the towel and eat everything in sight. If you feel good you are more likely to engage in conversations, meet new people and be the sparkly life of the party.
Hit the Yoga Studio: Do something physically active for at least 30 mins. Research shows that doing something positive for your health will lessen the urge to leave a serious dent in the Nacho platter. Plus using the time at the beginning and end of your class to visualize your event, who you are excited to catch up with, reflect on the engaging and supportive environment it is going to be.
Read the Paper: Go prepared to have something to talk about. Don’t expect to be entertained! If you are like me boredom is the gateway to extra nibbling!
Eat healthy throughout the Day: Don’t starve in anticipation to a big binge, because you may harm some small children during your beeline to the meatballs! Eat your regularly scheduled meals prior to the event and go with the attitude of enjoying the food your host has prepared for you instead of battling it.
Lastly, have fun! Don’t be the crazy lady hugging the cheese and crackers. Enjoy your food, take a picture post it online in homage to your lovely host and hostess and then hop into your family’s Christmas Eve tradition of Twister Olympics.
As for after the party…..read the article again and repeat above tips! (They apply to everyday not just “party/family dinner” days)!
With Kindness,
Amber
About the Author: Amber has been in the fitness and recreation game for over 15 years (not including school!!). She made fitness her life because as the age old saying goes, study and teach what it is you need to learn. In other words, she’s battles with some weight issues for many years and wants to share what she has learned along the way.
You can follow her @TheVeganHouse
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