Remember that time…
You wanted to have the cookies you saw at the holiday party but instead, you didn’t, and then you obsessed about holiday cookies for a week until you finally ate cookies and ate so many that you couldn’t stand to look at another iced holiday cookie?
Sound familiar?
This is an example of how restrictions can pop up even during the holiday season. We might brush off this instance as a lack of self-control or emotional stress when in actuality, it’s a cycle you might have fallen into.
How do you Avoid Counting Calories and Restriction This Holiday?
This holiday season let’s break the calorie counting crap and actually enjoy the season and food. You might be thinking, but HOW?! Here are a few steps you can try to help you get out of restriction and get back to enjoying the food.
- Give yourself permission to eat
- Enjoy the food and people around you
- Know that you are the one in control, not the food
- Take time for you to check in with how you are feeling
Self Care for the Holidays
As you start to think about how to stop restricting and allow yourself some peace around food, one thing to also keep in mind is your stress level. The good news is that there are many easy, inexpensive things you can do to take care of you during the holidays. We’d all like to go to the spa to help us relax, but that isn’t realistic or accessible and making sure you have self-care baked into your holidays helps you to not restrict. Here are a few of our favorite self-care ideas:
- Journaling
- Chatting with a friend
- Mediation
- Going for a walk
- Deep breathing
This holiday season choose to be present with friends and family and not so worried about the food and doing it all perfect!
Enjoy the holidays! Allow yourself time and space to enjoy the food and share those moments with others. Be good to yourself, connect with the people you love, and have a wonderful time.
Adrien Paczosa is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian practicing in Austin, Texas and the surrounding counties.
She is the owner and founder of I Live Well Nutrition her Dietitian practice which started in 2007 and serves clients in the Austin, Texas area in two locations. Fearless Practitioners, the division of her business that offers training to dietitians and wellness professionals.