It’s a special time of year, with celebrations, traditions, festivities, and parties...and cookies. But there are also some special challenges, too – all those sneaky saboteurs that go along with the holiday season. They can set you back in a BIG WAY from reaching your goals.
I put together a list of the 6 common pitfalls that can hurt our progress over the holidays, and when we are aware of them, it’s so much easier to avoid them.
Top 6 Ways to Sabotage Your Progress Over the Holidays:
1. Not eating all day before a party.
You may assume not eating or eating lightly all day when you know you’re going to indulge later would be the right approach. But it actually can backfire, leaving you to eat and drink even MORE than you expected because you are so hungry.
A better option: Eat healthy, slightly smaller meals before you go and then enjoy your favorites in moderation!
2. Overdoing fancy seasonal coffee drinks.
Even if you’ve seen these numbers before, it's helpful to look again. They are mostly empty calories and can wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels.
● Peppermint Hot Chocolate: 12 oz (350 ml) has 330 calories & 41 grams of sugar
● Caramel Brulee Latte – 12 oz (350 ml) has 310 calories & 36 grams of sugar
● Eggnog Frappuccino – 16 oz (475 ml) has 410 calories & 60 grams of sugar
3. Eating it just “because it’s there.”
Your once-a-year indulgence in your family's yummiest cookies is worth it!
The store-bought cookies someone bought at the last minute to bring to the holiday party? Not so much. They’ll just leave you feeling tired and sorry you ate them.
4. Drinking too much.
There are a lot of reasons to be intentional about your alcohol intake. It can interfere with your sleep and hydration, but it's also another source of empty calories. But here’s something you might not realize: It can lower your inhibitions, which means you might be more likely to snack on foods you’d normally avoid!
5. Letting your exercise routine slide.
One of the things we’ve learned over the past 2 years is that staying fit is a huge part of being healthy – it can keep your immune system strong and in shape.
This time of year can be super hectic, but do your best to squeeze in at least a quick workout most days of the week. Not just for your results, but for your mind and overall health. And, did you know: a 30 minute workout is only 2% of your day!?
6. Not getting enough sleep.
Making time for sleep is SO WORTH IT. Not only will you have more energy to tackle the holidays, but it will even help keep your metabolism revved and appetite in check.
Remember, it’s all about MODERATION. Having a plan in place is SO IMPORTANT not only during the holidays, but all year long. It gets rid of the guesswork while keeping you moving forward.
If you'd like to join my 12 Days of Fitmas Challenge you can join the Private Facebook Group where I will share this and future challenges and special exclusive offers. If you do not use Facebook or would like to join via email you can sign up here. There won't be as many chances to enter and win PRIZES (!) if you aren't posting in the group, but you can still get at least one entry per day!
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