Surviving The Sugar Rush of the Holiday Season
Last holiday season, many people were not having large social gatherings due to COVID, however this year we are back in full swing which means Trick or Treating, Fall Festivals, Holiday Dinners, and more. And of course, the holiday season wouldn't be complete without the sweet yumminess of candies, cookies, pies, and hot cocoa! All that is wonderful and welcome, however if we are not disciplined, over-indulgence of all these sugary foods could be easy and by mid-January, we have weakened our athletic performance, immune system, and overall health.
So I write this blog to nip this in the butt by preparing and getting us in the right mindset now so that we can better deal with the challenges to come. Here are some suggestions when dealing with the “sugar rush” of the holiday season:
Endulge Mindfully - The good news is that it's okay and encouraged to have the sweet if you want it, but be mindful about it. This will actually help you enjoy it even more since you are limiting yourself to a portion or a few bites. Eat slowly, savor each bite and taste the flavors! A good way to do this is to put your fork down after each bite. Trust me, mindful eating like this will leave you satisfied.
Be Selective - Your body is a temple and thus you should feed it as such. You deserve the best so go for the highest quality and the least processed sweet. For example, choosing homemade over packaged christmas cookies is most often a better option. If only pre-packaged sweets are offered, take a peek at the ingredient list on the food label and avoid it if it has high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors and colors and/or sweeteners.
Timing is Everything- Our body functions best when it is on a fairly consistent schedule like going to bed and waking up around the same time every day. It's the same with eating. So try to eat the sweet right after your meal or healthy snack. If you eat those donuts displayed at the office as your breakfast, you are setting your body and mind up for failure. Have a breakfast with protein and fiber, than take maybe half of a donut. Same for nightime parties. Try to eat the sweets (or sweet alcoholic drinks for that matter) early enough in the evening where you will have time to burn it off, then rest and digest.
Eat Before you Eat- I know it sounds funny and paradoxical, but hear me out. There is research that blood sugar levels affect willpower. When we haven't eaten in awhile, our blood sugar level drops. Many of us go to dinner parties hungry and with low blood sugar because we want to “save our appetite” for all the food that will be offered. This lends to lower willpower and therefore causes us to eat too much and make poor food choices. The dinner becomes focused too much about satisfying our hunger rather than the full experience of being with friends and family and really tasting and appreciating the food.
So instead, before you leave your house, eat something easy that's small and full of fiber such as an apple, half of a banana, or a handful of nuts. I promise you that you still will be ready to eat by the time dinner is served at the party.
So enjoy all this seasons has to offer including a sweet here and there and remember practice and consistency are key so if you over-indulge, dont beat yourself up over it. Just ask yourself what you could have done better next time and learn from it. Bye for now, I have holiday cookies to bake!