The Christmas period is often a wonderful time to socialise with friends and family and almost always involves being surrounded by delicious food & drink.
You know the scene: someone is handing round a bowl of salty snacks, a tub of Celebrations is within arm’s-length, another bottle of wine has just been opened…
But it’s all too much to handle while desperately try to cling onto progressing towards your goal, and Christmas is that banana skin you always slip on and hit the “f*ck it”button, only to feel guilty and wishing you’d not caved. You’re now thinking “sod it, I’ll have to wait until New Year to get back on track now…” and opt to hoover food like Pac-Man.
So despite it being a time of year to be enjoying all that is on offer, you might feel might you let yourself down. This is not how I want you to feel at the end of the year, or the start of the next. Let’s remember that how we eat between January and December is more impactful than December to January.
So here are my top pieces of advice to help you navigate Christmas without being left feeling like you failed, or on the flip side, like you have to be deprive yourself of lovely Christmas foods:
- Stay active and keep your step count up
- Where possible walk to/from the shops
- Deliver cards or gift by hand
- Enjoy walks with family or friends as a way to meet up and chat
- Stay strong with food pushers: it’s absolutely okay turn down food, even if someone insists- it’s not rude; explain to them you’re simply full
- “Go on, it’s Christmas!” is a common phrase to hear- be prepared to counter or deflect it
- Listen to your hunger and fullness- just like at any time of year, our body is good at indicating when we need, or don’t need food
Remember no foods are off the menu…but maybe don’t try eat them day after day!
The ‘Christmas’ foods are on offer throughout the period and chances are you can get to try them all at some point- I’d advise spreading them out.
If you choose to save it all for one big day of indulgence, remember one day does not ruin a diet.
If you come out the other side of Christmas without any body fat gain AND you have a great time, winner!
Be happy, be merry and give yourself permission to enjoy it.