How to Maintain Health Goals Through the Holiday Season

May 17, 2022

Photo by krakenimages

The holiday season is almost here!

The family gatherings, gift giving and traditional foods are what makes the holidays great. For a lot of my clients, there is a fear that the holidays will derail their health goals.

It’s true that holiday foods tend to be more rich and the number of holiday gatherings do pose some challenges for those attempting to maintain health goals, but it’s not impossible!

Here are my top tips for maintaining your health goals over the holiday season.

Use the 80/20 rule! For my digestive health clients, following my gut restore protocol takes patience and dedication but the health benefits are worth the initial sacrifice. Stick with following your nutrition plan 80% of the time and allow yourself to enjoy favorite holiday foods for the remaining 20%.
Keep your routine consistent! Try to keep consistent with your normal routine while adding in the holiday events. This means sticking with your workouts , meal prepping schedule, etc. This will help keep you consistent so that following your typical nutrition goals continue to be a top priority
Make sure you’re not skipping meals or under-hydrating When blood sugar levels get too low and “hanger” kicks in, it’s very difficult to eat mindfully . I always recommend my clients think about their hunger level on a scale of 1-10, 1 being famished, while 10 being nauseatingly full. When you reach a 1-2 on the scale, primal hunger kicks in (we’ve all been there!) and you wind up reaching a point of 9-10, since eating mindfully is close to impossible! Not skipping meals and staying hydrated will prevent this from happening!
Leftovers are great during the holidays but they could impact nutrition goals if not enjoyed in balance and moderation. I recommend my clients enjoy those seasonal foods in the moment & leave the leftovers for others.
Take time for self care! Balancing holiday shopping, cooking and parties can be mentally exhausting! Taking time to refill your metaphorical cup is crucial. I always recommend my clients make self care a part of their weekly routine at least once per week!

If you’ve been spinning your wheels trying to improve gut health without getting the relief you need, apply to work with by emailing sarah@r2onutrition.com