A few tips to avoid holiday temptation.
Image via CreateHER Stock, LLC Photographer: Isha Gaines
By Driadonna Roland
Here come the holidays, to load even more onto your already-full plate! It’s a commonality that when our schedules fill up and we’re juggling too many balls, the first to drop can be the commitment to our health.
This season, we want to share some helpful tips on how to maintain your wellness goals and manage your diet despite the indulgences of Thanksgiving. Whether it’s jingle bells or holiday hell, this is truly a time where if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
PRE-GAME
It all starts in the mind, so the first step is to determine to prioritize your goals over your feelings and circumstances. Fitness is a lifestyle, so fit it in to your life! As HuffPo fitness writer Penny Love put it, “I hate to bear bad news, but the reality is that if you have fitness goals, you've got to plan your life around exercise and dieting activities, not vice versa.” This might require you to be flexible and creative; don’t be so rigid that if you can’t stick to your exact routine to the tee then you count it a loss. After all, isn’t 15 minutes of exercise better than zero?
Let’s say you’re staying with family and can’t do your usual 6 a.m. hourlong cardio sesh in the living room. How can you modify it so you get your workout in without waking up grandma? Find a 30-minute pilates workout on YouTube — Fitness Blender has tons of free videos — or a serene yoga practice instead.
Is there a way to make exercise a family affair? Convince your relatives to try a local fitness class with you, something fun or low-impact that people of all ages can do together. Another alternative is to gather everyone and pop in an old school aerobics tape while you wait for that turkey to bake! This way you’ll get in your sweat sesh and your quality time.
A CORNUCOPIA OF TRIGGERS
Holidays are innately emotional. This can be true whether you’re with loved ones or alone. For those who are emotional eaters, this can be an especially tricky season. Some strategies here are to be mindful of your triggers. What gets you in your feelings? Use that self-awareness to acknowledge your feelings without indulging them.
And as hard as it may seem, you should feel empowered to do what’s best for you. If home is uncomfortable and you stuff your mouth to avoid those awkward family conversations, you don’t have to place yourself in that situation. Some people opt for Friendsgiving, surrounding themselves with the family they choose; some make a special meal for one; others volunteer at soup kitchens to feed the less fortunate.
We also expend a great amount of energy agonizing over food. How can you enjoy your meal when you stress over it? “If we're stuck in conflict, feeling like, 'Oh my gosh, I shouldn't eat any pie. I'm on a diet but the pie looks so good. I shouldn't have it, but maybe I'll have a small piece,' that's a tremendous amount of energy that's going into the pie," Dr. Alexis Conason recently told Good Morning America. Instead of beating yourself up, try this instead: Moderation over deprivation.
TURKEY DAY TEMPTATION
As this is the season for parties galore, willpower gets harder to practice with each invite. That’s why preparation must start even before you get to the table.
If you’re traveling home, bring your own healthy snacks to the airport or train station so you’re not subject to the overpriced, not-so-fresh offerings they tend to have.
When you get to the event, get a layout of the spread first and make a game plan. Pace yourself by drinking a cup of water for every glass of alcohol or wine. And manage your portions; one spoon of those yams with the marshmallows on top is enough to savor the flavor.
Some of us come from cultures where we do feel pressured to eat, or we don’t want to offend Aunt Barbara by not eating her potato salad. Remember — it’s your waistline, not theirs, so stand your ground!
And finally, if you do overeat, it’s OK... as long as you bounce back. Don’t let one cheat meal became a cheat month or cheat life. Show yourself some compassion, keep it moving, and pick right back up.
Happy Thanksgiving!
About the writer
Driadonna Roland is a multidisciplinary storyteller born in Detroit, Michigan. After earning a B.S. in journalism from Florida A&M University, she got her start as a newspaper reporter, then transitioned to digital media with brands including BuzzFeed, MTV News, and Complex. Driadonna loves to tell stories that center black women and help entrepreneurs with copywriting and branding. Currently, she is a freelance writer/producer/personality based in NYC who is available for hire! To keep up with Driadonna follow her @DreeTV on IG.