Back On Track After The Holidays

photo credit: realSMILEY

It seems like right around this time of year we can look down and notice just a bit more pudge on our belly or thighs than we could just over a month ago before Thanksgiving.  Just thinking back to all the extra goodies I’ve eaten since the 4th week in November…lots of gravy, pumpkin pie, whipped cream, hot mochas, pecan tarts (my mom makes them better than anybody), gingerbread cookies, cheesecake (my birthday also happens to fall just a few days after Thanksgiving and I have to have cheesecake every year), cheesy casseroles, and…you fill in the blank.  Yes, I have eaten all of the above in the last 7 weeks.  And a whole lot more that I haven’t mentioned.  Josh says I don’t look any different (he’s nice like that), but I can feel a small difference.  Maybe not with too many pounds, but I never feel great when I’ve consumed too many sweets.

This may be the point where you sat down to make a New Year’s list that included losing X number of pounds, eating no sugar, no fat, no carbs, no calories, and exercising 7 times a week for 2 hours each day, no exceptions.  Okay, so that list may be a little exaggerated, but that’s my point.  It’s easy to set unreasonable goals that only set us up for failure.  Be reasonable and start with realistic goals.

As you make your New Year’s resolution list, remember this one thing:  YOU are the one behind the list that can make it happen.  I know that losing weight or some form of being healthier is on almost everyone’s list.  Maybe it’s cutting out sugar, or exercising more.  It’s nice that right here and now we are motivated and ready to tackle the year.  But all too often, the end of January rolls around and we are still waiting to start our health goals.  I want to encourage you to pursue your goals right now.  Today.  Don’t wait.  Make this year different than last!  There is no magical formula to lose weight and become healthier. We have an opportunity (and responsibility) to be healthier in the body that we’ve been given, and it takes work, self control, and discipline.  You have to want the difference in your life.

Getting healthier after the holidays (or anytime, really) is not only about weight.  You may not be someone who struggles with your weight.  You might be like my mom or sister who is stick skinny no matter what (lucky you).  But skinny doesn’t always mean healthy (Mom and Jill, I know you are healthy though).  I always opt to pursue health not weight loss only.  Usually a natural result of eating healthier is that we lose weight.

If you still have left over Christmas cookies, pies, and whatever other goodies you keep on hand for the holidays, I would suggest you get rid of them somehow (and I don’t mean eat them).  If you have a dog, they love cookies, believe me.  Give them away or throw them away.  I still like the dog option because then you don’t have to waste them.  But I don’t think dogs are supposed to have chocolate.

Here are a few suggestions to make some reasonable healthy changes without depriving yourself of everything you enjoy:

• Replace white refined sugar with raw, organic, unrefined sugar in your coffee or tea and in all your recipes.
• Or use honey or stevia (stevia has no calories)
• Use coconut oil on toast instead of butter or margarine
• If you don’t like coconut oil, at least use real butter instead of bad artificial margarine
• Eat whole wheat breads and pasta instead of white flour breads and pastas
• Replace a few cups of coffee per week with organic herbal teas
• Buy a cute water bottle and fill it up several times a day with filtered water

That’s just a small list, but it’s just to give you an example of some changes that can be made.  Find a workout partner or someone to keep you accountable to your new goals.  I find this helps.  And have fun!  Eating healthy and exercising really is fun.  :)