How I Plan to Stay PERFECTLY on Track during the Holidays
I don’t. It’s that simple. The holidays are here and I plan to celebrate with family and friends. Let’s face it. Food and drink are part of making the holidays bright, right? Trying to be perfect, all the time not only sucks, but isn’t realistic. Life happens. No one is perfect, and everyone deserves to treat themselves.
In years past, now would be the time I would have to start planning the start date of my New Year’s Resolution (which never started January 1st), which was always the same; diet, exercise and finally lose weight. I would then take the holidays as a time to have my last hurrah, so to speak, for the umpteenth time. No more. I have put great thought into my plan of attack. I am now sporting a pair of jeans that I was unable to cram my ass into for 8 years. I don’t plan on blowing the button off those suckers because a (dozen) peanut butter ball(s) were irresistible. So, the next week or so is going to go something like this:
- I have decided not to bake this year. My children are threatening to call the authorities. Just wait until they see the fruit plate I make them leave out for Santa! I am going to tell them Jolly Old St. Nick has diabetes and the doctor said to cut the crap in his diet. Even though sweets are not normally my downfall, when they are in front of me, somehow they make their way into my mouth.
- I will cook with little room to overindulge. We are having two get-togethers in our home. Rather than create the usual buffet of fatty, cheesy, sour creamy, hors d’oeuvres, I am cooking actual meals. While they will still be ‘sinful’ to an extent, having a sit down meal leaves little room for picking. Let’s face it; picking (and picking) over the course of an evening can be disastrous. I will also make sure to make at least ½ of my plate filled with vegetables and salad.
- Making healthy contributions at other parties. This is something I have been doing for a while. I will bring a Greek Yogurt dip or Hummus with raw veggies and organic corn/flax chips to a party. I still try small amounts of some of the more ‘fattening’ dishes, but very little. I will make sure to load up on the things that are not only better for me, but are more satisfying and stick with me longer.
- On days where there is nothing going on, or before an event starts I will eat clean. I often used to find myself letting one treat or ‘cheat meal’ turn into a cheat day or week-end (then week, then month, then year…). There is no need to eat those leftovers in the fridge, just because they are there. If we aren’t at a party yet, there is no reason for me to start the festivities early with a garbage lunch or snacks. Protein shakes, fresh pressed juice, smoothies, fruits and vegetables FOR THE WIN!
- EXERCISE. This is the key for me. I need to keep the routine that I have created in my life steady. Taking a small break because it’s the holidays, is not only stupid, but could mean slipping back into the, ‘I’ll go tomorrow’ song and dance. If I can find time to get to a class 55 times in 66 days (and do some cardio on the side), I can certainly find time this Christmas season to keep it up, whether it’s at home, in a hotel gym, or at a class.
This year I am not really making a health/fitness/or diet resolution (other than to keep up with what I am doing), which is like some kind of miracle in itself. I’ve already made major life changes, so for me to ‘resolve’ to do something would indicate I am not on the right path. For once, I am on track and I am happier than I’ve ever been. Making healthy lifestyle choices is now a natural part of my life, and no longer something I will do, ‘next year’ or ‘Monday’. It’s something I do today, and tomorrow and forever.
Happy Holidays to each and every one of you!
~Angela