Health After the Holidays

The holidays are in full swing, which comes with so many gifts that go beyond the material presents. Many of us are fortunate enough to celebrate with family, friends, and the other people in our lives, and the most important thing to remember during it all is to stay present and focus on creating beautiful moments and memories.

The last thing we should worry about is whether we’re dieting enough.

But when we stop thinking about eating well and supporting our physical health, this can leave us feeling depleted at the end of the season when we really want to be ready to kick the upcoming year into full gear. For those of us who are going back to work or school after the holidays, we don’t want to start by feeling drained and exhausted. 

Let’s talk about how you can make that happen.

 

Why Holiday Eating Disrupts Your Body

I’m never going to tell anyone not to enjoy a sugar cookie at a holiday party, or order takeout while you’re running errands and preparing for festivities. Prioritizing your nutrition 100% of the time is impractical at best, discouragingly unrealistic at worst. But we can all strive towards a balance that allows us to enjoy the “life” part of our “lifestyles.”

So why worry about sugar cookies and takeout food at all?

One thing we know about our world is that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And if it tastes too good, it’s probably not good for you. Diets high in refined sugars and processed foods have been linked with lower metabolic rates, noncommunicable disease, and disruption in gut flora. But this doesn’t happen unless you’re consuming frequently over a period of time.

In short, a sugar cookie won’t cause too much damage if you don’t make it a habit.

 

Simple Strategies to Stay Active and Balanced

It’s easy to hear that and think, “Awesome! The holidays are a free-for-all, and after the holidays, I’ll fix my diet and exercise regimen and bounce back.” This is, thankfully, mostly true. But if you’re here, it’s likely that you want to care for yourself and your body, and as we all know from our interpersonal relationships, small actions of care are important, not just neglect in favor of a grand gesture every now and again.

There are things you can do today that will help your body tomorrow, and yes, they’ll fit into your wild holiday schedule.

• Work your cardio in with a minimum of 30 minutes of walking per day, 5 days per week. Fit it in between errands, or turn it into an event for the whole family.
   
• When you’re celebrating, you may not be able to account for hitting all of the major food groups. Try to pick one meal of the day where you’re going to eat healthy or eat nutritious meals on non-celebration days.
   
• Even if you can’t make it to the gym, try a 20-minute home workout. If you’re not sure where to start, find something low-impact on YouTube, like a yoga or pilates class.

 

The Connection Between Gut Health and Holiday Eating
 

Gut health impacts so many of our body’s processes, and introducing large quantities of refined sugars and processed foods into our diet can be very hard on the gut. If you’ve been experiencing bloating, indigestion, or any increased gastrointestinal distress, your gut could be out of balance.

Part of keeping our gut microbiome healthy relies on eating from diverse sources of fiber, and the more processed food we consume, the less healthy fiber we’re eating. Getting your gut health back on track starts with supporting your natural flora with lots of different kinds of fruits and vegetables. Anyone who is trying to eat seasonally might find this challenging in the winter months, but there are more winter vegetables available than you might think. From root vegetables like carrots and parsnips to winter leafy greans like kale and rappini, there are a lot of options out there, and this might be your sign to branch out and try some new warm, hearty, healthy recipes.

There are also some supplements that can help heal the gut. We may get into this in future blog posts, but the most important thing is to give your gut flora the best environment possible (if you’re not doing that already – if you are eating whole, unprocessed foods with a variety of fibers and still having issues with bloating and indigestion, it might be a good idea to consult with a physician).

 

Guilt, Shame, Health, and the Holidays

Sure, our culture encourages us to enjoy the holidays, but it also puts a lot of pressure on us to be perfect; to create the perfect holiday season for our families, while staying on top of our work life and gym routines. For those of us who may skip a few gym days or at home workouts in favor of wrapping gifts or getting adequate rest, guilt often plays the Scrooge that doesn’t allow us to enjoy our holidays.

Here’s the truth that most cleanses, diets, and workout routines won’t tell you – it’s okay to take a day off.

Our bodies are resilient and built to come back from the stress we put them through. As long as you don’t make it a recurring habit, sweet treats and even the occasional chicken nugget can be a part of a balanced lifestyle. 

If you’re already feeling the guilt, try to focus on something positive you can do today or tomorrow. Don’t think about your past skipped workouts (trust me, in ten years, you won’t remember skipping leg day). And don’t get too caught up in thinking about the future, either! Focus on the small steps you can make today to improve your health for tomorrow, and build yourself up with manageable, small-scale successes.

 

Enjoy the Holidays!

Thanks so much for checking out our blog here on http://nourify-beautify.com. We discussed this topic recently with fitness coach Cameron Excell, so if you’re interested in more on this topic, check out his episode of the Nourify and Beautify Podcast!

We hope you’ll subscribe to the show, and check back for weekly blog posts.