Day 1: Guilt
"It's the most wonderful time of the year." Does this song make anyone else think of chaos? Too many holiday movie scenes of mayhem have involved blaring this Andy Williams classic. We've all been incepted.
But this isn't without reason. The irony is real. The holiday season can be stressful. Full calendars, endless gift buying, family dynamics, travel, and FOOD.
Typical American family holiday traditions revolve heavily around food. These traditional foods are usually different than what we eat on a regular basis -- often higher in saturated fats, refined carbohydrates, sodium, and sugar. These foods leave us feeling sluggish, and for many, they leave us feeling guilty.
In my opinion, the first step in creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, be it during the holiday season or any time of year, is a healthy relationship with food.
Creating limits and restrictions when it comes to food doesn't have to look miserable. We do this in many areas of life with a different mindset. Setting goals for exercise. Sacrificing time to help a friend in need. Setting a curfew for our kids. Limiting spending to save money. If we do these things for the right reasons, we see improvement in our life, not loss.
What motivates you to be healthy? Maybe it's a recent health scare, for yourself or a loved one. Maybe it's weight loss. Maybe it's anxiety or depression. It could be that you talked to a friend who feels amazing after making some changes in their diet and lifestyle. It could be that you just want to feel better and have more energy. This motivation will look different for everyone. The key is that you find yours.
Over the next 11 days, I'll be sharing daily wellness tips that will help you manage your health during the holiday season and start the new year off right. We will continue to revisit this theme of guilt and a healthy relationship with food.
Be kind to yourself this season. See you tomorrow!
