Winning the Holidays
Some of you may have read or seen posts and/or articles about not making excuses, not falling into the holiday “trap,” and staying on track with your normal, or particularly healthy eating, training, and lifestyle habits.
Others have probably noticed the buzz in fitness industry claiming how a holiday or two aren’t going to taint your goals - enjoy the food, stay out of the tracker, this time of year is about the memories!
Well, unfortunately, we aren’t here to confirm either of these approaches. We aren’t even here to tell you that finding something in the middle of the two is the right thing to do. Because really, just like anything else, this is about YOU. Not us, not your training partner, not your sister or your best friends - how you choose to approach this holiday season is about choosing something that will make you feel the most fulfilled in your own journey. Truth is, you’re never going to find the PERFECT answer. Holidays are damn complicated, and we can crack at it one million times and still have not found the perfect approach. We just know that some of you are struggling right now, and we want to help you navigate what the holidays can look like for you best case scenario.
Navigating the Holiday Emotions
A few things to consider when you’re traveling through the road map of emotions that come with holidays approaching:
What do the holidays mean to you? They surely aren’t the same for everyone. For many it’s a time to travel near and far to loved ones, meet new people at holiday parties, give and exchange special gifts, practice family traditions and indulge in delicious holiday food and fun mixed drinks full of holiday cheer! For others, the holidays are a busy working season, late nights, and actually time spent AWAY from family. Decide what the upcoming season means to you, and let that guide how familiar you stay with your typical day to day when it comes to training, food, sleep ETC.
What have you been working towards this year? What are your goals for the holiday? If you can answer these questions truthfully to yourself it may give you some direction in discovering what type of approach feels most in alignment with your vision for your life. Remember, a holiday or two won't MAKE or BREAK you. This means that you’re not going to wreck your progress by indulging nor are you going to become a professional athlete by a couple days of restriction. Also, a friendly reminder that holidays get to be exactly what you want them to be, but generally speaking, enjoying the day and then moving on is going to help us feel like we didn’t miss a beat VS dragging it out an entire week and feeling totally off balance when it’s time to resume normal life.
What are your past experiences with holidays? Have you over indulged in past years and held guilt for it for months to follow- feeling like it wasn’t “worth it?” Have you stuck to your guns and crushed your diary through thanksgiving and felt like you totally missed out? Sometimes looking back at experiences you’ve had in the past can be really helpful way for you to set more fulfilling expectations for yourself and the holidays so you can keep getting better and better each year! Is it the idea of tracking all of your food/ worrying about building
What scares you MOST about the holidays? The “balanced plate;” or is it the idea of going overboard and not being able to demonstrate self control in situations it’d be very easy to lack. Look at the scenario your “holiday fears” thrive under most, and consider that may be where you want to put your focus. Ie - if tracking makes you anxious, talk with your coach about ways that you can be out of your tracker and still feel successful. If you know that lack of boundaries with yourself is going to spiral, talk with your coach about some little tools/tricks that help to hold you accountable.
The Holidays Don't Define You
Like anything in life, this stuff takes practice. Unfortunately, there IS a reason that holidays bring about some anxious feelings for some people. It’s because for most of us, we’ve concluded a holiday feeling like we missed the mark somewhere, let ourselves or others down in some way, or moved backwards instead of forwards during those months of festivities. It’s OK. Your past does not define you. This coming holiday does not define you. We are all a work in progress, and so are the holidays. We will keep getting better and better each year! We are here for you if you’re needing some support this time of year too. :)
Activities to Win the Holidays
- What are your goals? What have you been working on this year? What have you been working on this month? What is your goal for this holiday season?
- What do the holidays mean to you? Decide what the upcoming season means to you, and let that guide how familiar you stay with your typical day to day when it comes to training, food, sleep ETC.
- What are your past experiences with holidays? Sometimes looking back at experiences you’ve had in the past can be really helpful way for you to set more fulfilling expectations for yourself and the holidays so you can keep getting better and better each year!
- What scares you MOST about the holidays? Look at the scenario your “holiday fears” thrive under most, and consider that may be where you want to put your focus.
- What would your perfect holiday experience look like? Who’s there? What are you eating? What are you drinking? What are you wearing? What does it feel, smell, sound like? How do you feel the next day? Be as descriptive as possible.
My Holiday Plan
Below write a 3 step plan to help you stay on track this holiday season.
(ie hit my water goal on Thanksgiving, stay mindful of my hunger eating the foods I want but stopping when full, leave my phone in my purse so I can connect fully with those around me)
Holiday Follow Up
- What went well?
- What went poorly?
- If I could improve in two areas next time they would be?
- Things that will help me be more successful next time?