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How To Get Your Eating Back On Track After The Holidays

Posted in NUTRITION , January 1st, 2018

Life would be so simple if there weren’t so many holidays (and office parties, and potlucks, and gift exchanges, etc.) squeezed into such a short period of time. Of course, it’s not a celebration without loads of booze and copious amounts of dessert, and your fridge practically stocks itself with leftovers. Here are few tips you can try to ensure you get back on schedule as soon as holiday season is over:

 

1. Don’t beat yourself up – You can’t take back the debauchery that happened at last night’s dessert table. (And truthfully, you wouldn’t want to — it was amazing!) Treat the day after as just another day of eating healthy and staying active.

2. Stock up on healthy foods – Yes, your fridge contains half a pecan pie and enough treats to feed an army. While it might sound crazy to buy more food, a fridge full of tempting treats won’t help you get back on track.Go for high-fiber veggies to fill you up, and lean protein (leftover turkey breast counts!) to keep you satisfied.

4. Organize your fridge strategically –  Put leftovers in the fridge towards the back and keep fruit and veggies in front. This way you’ll have to work to get the good stuff, and have easy access to the healthiest foods.

5. Don’t focus on trying to lose weight overnight-  It’s just not realistic.

6. Start Eating on Schedule – it may be tempting to cut way back, but starving yourself completely backfires. Eating too little forces your body to switch into conservation mode and burn fewer calories, which means you’re more likely to hang onto body fat. And undereating can cause your body to break down muscle mass for fuel, which also causes a metabolic slow down. Unless you want to wind up thinner but flabbier, eating enough and at regular times is key.

7. Drink More H2O – Water does support optimal metabolism and some research shows it may naturally curb your appetite, but it can also help you feel better fast. Drinking more water flushes out excess sodium to help you quickly de-bloat, and it gets things moving in your digestive system to relieve constipation. Aim for 2 to 2.5 liters a day (about 8 to 10 cups).

holiday dinner