Recovering from a Holiday Blow Out

The holiday season is one of plenty and often we do things to excess, causing a blow out. We go overboard with anything from decorations and gift giving, or maybe indulging in a little bit more food or alcohol than usual. In fact, it is practically a Christmas tradition to eat so much that you need to unbutton your pants and take a nap to recover.

This can play on your mind if you are trying to maintain your healthy eating habits.

Although the Christmas binge happens to many of us, for those who are trying hard to stay on track with healthy eating, it can feel like a huge setback. It can also have a negative impact on how you feel about yourself and your journey to good health.

The good news is, having a bit of a holiday blow out doesn’t have to spiral into guilt and more unwise food choices. Here are some tips to recover if you have overindulged during the holiday season.

1. Don’t deprive yourself in an effort to “balance it out”

The guilt of over-indulging can often lead you to getting overly strict with your diet, cutting out all the foods you enjoy or maybe even fasting. This might help you feel like you are back in control of your health, but restricting yourself too harshly leads to feelings of deprivation and resentment. Ultimately, it will bring on more cravings and potentially cause another blow-out, perpetuating the cycle of binge eating.

It is better to return to your usual healthy eating habits and eating everything in moderation. If you feel like some chocolate with the family, have one or two pieces… just not one or two boxes and then slowly get back into your healthy eating routine.

2. Let it go!

Rather than dwelling on your holiday eating blow out and feeling like a failure, let it go. Remember that every minute is the opportunity to get back into eating well and making wise choices. Kicking yourself about how much food you ate or the type of food will create negative feelings, which, as you know, tend to multiply. Suddenly, you are facing a snowball effect of low self-esteem and more self-destructive behaviour.

Remember that it is not your mistakes that define who you are, only how you react to them. And hey, if it is good enough for Elsa to let it go, then it is good enough for us too! 😉

3. Stay active

Use all the extra energy provided to you by your calorie increase to head outdoors and get some exercise in. This is not an excuse to punish your body by overdoing it at the gym. Instead, head outside for a walk or run along the beach or enjoy your regular exercise routine. It will help you to feel proactive and cleanse the extra sugar from your bloodstream. Walking also helps digestion, AND being outside in the fresh air and sunshine will boost your mood considerably.

Try even doing it first thing in the morning because then you’re more likely to make healthier food choices during the day – when you start off doing something healthy, it’s easier to stay on track.

4. Connect with others who “get it”

This is the perfect time to reach out to your support network. Simply venting and chatting with other woman who understand how you feel can alleviate those feelings of isolation, guilt, and frustration. Chat to friends or family if they will give you the right support.

If you don’t have a support network that ‘gets it’, or you need a bit of an extra boost, then an online community is a fantastic solution. Being part of a network like our Wicked Healthy Tribe is an essential way to feel supported and achieve the goals you set for yourself. Join a bunch of fun and focused, like minded ladies who want to help you succeed. My Wicked Healthy Tribe membership will be opening up for short time in the next few weeks so join the waitlist so you’re the first to hear about it.

5. Just get started!

Don’t leave it until tomorrow, or Monday, or next month, just get started now. Try this Curried Broccoli & Chickpea Salad, these Veggie Burgers w Roasted Cauliflower or this Black Bean Nourish Bowl. They’re all super simple, yet totally delicious!