Happy Holidays everyone,
This is the best time of the year, don’t you think?
The leaves are changing. There is a cool bite in the air. It is a time for families and friends to come together and celebrate the harvest, thanksgiving and the beginning of a new year.
It is also a time when we have the tendency to ignore how our bodies work and what can happen when we consume treats, processed foods, and alcohol. We stop giving our bodies the simple factors that allow it to heal.
As wonderful as it can be, the extra activities of the holiday season can add increased stress to our lives and over-burden our digestive and immune systems. We put off exercising, we eat poorly, and we don’t get enough sleep. We don’t allow time to sit and be still, or to reconnect with those activities that bring happiness into our lives.
Remember, health and wellness is a lifestyle. It is not something you can buy in a bottle or create at the gym a few times a week. How we chose to live our lives will create the health, fitness, and wellness we desire.
Making the most of this holiday season is a gentle reminder of how amazing you are.
Give yourself a moment to feel how you would like your holiday season to be. Feel it filled with loving moments with friends and family. Make those moments about sharing your thanks for having them in your life, not about the deserts and alcohol. Treat yourself with time to eat well, and prepare wholesome meals for your family. And again, feel how fortunate you are for all that you have.
Create some activities special to fall and winter – ones that get you outside and close to nature. Autumn is a wonderful season for hiking, riding horses, playing football, roaming pumpkin patches, bike riding, photography, raking leaves, canoeing, or whatever you enjoy.
Winter is even better with all its activities. Give yourself permission to get out there and be a kid. Make a snowman, take a brisk walk, go sledding, skiing, or snow mobiling. You can still hike, ride horses, and bike ride.
Winter doesn’t mean you are supposed to lock yourself up inside, sitting in front of the T.V. waiting for spring.
Our bodies love to move and be active. Give yourself this gift, and you will find that the ten pounds most of us put on over the holidays isn’t on your hips or around your stomach. Do you know what that means? You are already ten pounds ahead of the game, and you will move into the New Year with a healthier, happier, spirit, mind, and body.
Here are a few simple steps to create for your holiday season.
Take a moment to actually visualize how you will feel the day after New Years: happy, healthy, and proud that you did so well through the holiday season. Really live in it.
Create a small list of five key thoughts you will focus on each day such as:
- eat well – lots of vegetables, clean proteins, and little bits of fat.
- get sound sleep – this is when your body repairs and rebuilds
- drink lots of water – hydration is so important to your health.
- breathe – take time to be still and quiet your mind.
- get outside and move – start to really enjoy your outside environment.
Here are a few of my best ways not to fall prey to the abundance of sweets and such.
I always make sure to eat or juice before going to a holiday party, even if they are serving food. This way I am not inclined to crave sweets. Remember: sweets and junk food are not the reason for getting together. This is a time for celebrating our family and loved ones. You can easily do that without ice cream, pies, alcohol, and pizza.
I always prepare myself ahead of time by visualizing myself having a wonderful time without diving into the cheese dip, and the rest.
I make sure to drink water in a wine glass with lemon, so it has the same feel of participating with the group, and folks are less likely to tease me into drinking.
Most of the time people want you to drink because they are, and they feel uncomfortable if you are not.
I make sure never to take food home with me.
I keep my kitchen filled with wholesome foods so there are no temptations.
Believe it or not, this is not challenging at all. The key is to remain focused on your desire to feel and be healthy and happy. Every time you do it right, it gets even easier. After a week or so you won’t even think about it.
You already have the ability to do so.
I would like to leave you with one last thought.
Only you can take responsibility for your life and everything about it.
Most folks hear the word “Responsibility” and think, ‘Oh great, one more thing I have to do.’ We already have responsibilities to our partners, our kids, our work, and our groups.
In actuality, responsibility is a gift. Look at the word “Responsibility,” and let’s break it apart into two words. Response–Ability or having the ability to respond.
It is my feeling that having the ability to respond means that you have been blessed with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to take care of, solve, resolve, teach, share, and express who you are and what is important to you in each and every moment of your life.
Having the ability to respond and how you respond determines your life.
Use your gift of “Response-Ability by expressing the best choices for your health, happiness, wealth, and wellness.
Have a holiday season full of happiness, health, and well being!
I wish for all of you Vibrant Health!
Feedback