Happy Friday!!

Today I invite you to think back about how the recent Thanksgiving week went for you (if you celebrate)!

If things went well, and you're satisfied with your interactions with foods, meals, and treats, then GREAT! Keep doing those same things at future holidays!

However, if you're less-than-satisfied with how things went for any reason, consider how you can set yourself up differently at future holidays or events... you know, like the ones we may have coming up in a few weeks, or next year, or at your birthday…

Here are some things to consider:

-How did meals leave you feeling? Full and satisfied? Or stuffed and unbuttoning your pants? If needed, you might practice checking in with your fullness levels over the next few weeks so that you know what it feels like to be 85% full. Then, at upcoming holidays/events you’ll be able to know what that feels like and adjust your intake accordingly so you can walk away from holiday meals feeling good and satisfied (and keep you pants buttoned ;) ). You may also consider having some healthy protein-rich/veggie-based snacks before holiday meals so that you're not ravenous when you sit down, likely causing you to moderate your intake a little more clearly. And remember, contrary to popular (and antiquated) sayings, you don’t have to clean your plate… eat what’s right for you!

-Did you drink more than you intended? Can you include waters between alcoholic drinks at upcoming events? Consider including some "mock-tails"?

-Did you have more treats than you'd like? Next time is it possible to take just little bites or pieces of everything you want as opposed to having 7 full pieces of pie?! Can you take some treats home, or save some for later, so you don’t have to eat them all at once?

-Did you have more appetizers than you needed? Can you get a plate and take a serving of all the apps you want and then physically move yourself away from them so that you're less likely to continue to eat more and more?

-Did you move less than you'd like? Maybe you can go on a walk as a family, if that applies? Also, keep in mind that movement doesn't need to take the form of a full hour-long workout to be helpful and allow you to physically feel better. A few extra trips up and down the stairs, or 10 squats every time you walk into the bathroom can be super helpful!

These are all ideas from personal experience ;) ... certainly there may be other ares that you may want to work on. Reflect back on your experiences and see what you might be able to do to leave you feeling more successful and satisfied at future events! And, as always, reach out or comment here if you need help or want to talk about your personal experiences!

And, with this all being said, I am by no means suggesting that you need to limit food intake on holidays or that you need to workout to “make up for” what you’ve eaten. I am merely suggesting that we reflect on our experiences and see if there are ways that we can allow ourselves to literally feel better (and potentially decrease any guilty feelings that may come up around food intake) so that we can actually enjoy holidays or events instead of increasing our anxiety around them.

What do you think about all of this?! Leave your thoughts in the comments!

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Hope you had a great holiday and are looking forward to future events!
xoxo,
Sara

The Nutrition For Life Project Blog

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