How to enjoy Christmas AND stay healthy: part 1

It is safe to say that the holiday season is just around the corner now and, this year more than ever, Christmas is going to be a delicate time for many of us who will have to spend it differently from usual. It still certainly remains a cherished time by most, especially in the midst of what the world is dealing with right now. It is time to take a break from our daily routines, enjoy some (often long overdue) time off and embrace traditions we’ve known and looked forward to since we were little.

For many years, I was never fully capable of truly enjoying this time of the year without also experiencing some conflicting and even unpleasant emotions. The thing is, I like my routines, especially around food and eating; so for a long time, I struggled to find a way to enjoy this festive period whilst also staying true to my fitness, nutrition, and wellbeing needs.

If you’ve read any of my blogs or watched any of my videos on Youtube you’ll know that food and nutrition was not always an easy subject for me: I don’t have any regrets, in fact through my challenging experiences I learned most of what I know and I’m now able to help busy female leaders overcome their own struggles and heal their relationships with food so they can live the lives of their dreams.

It took me years, however, to establish healthy and balanced routines around eating and that is why for years I really struggled during the holiday period. 

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE a treat and extravagant meal much like any other person out there however, this time of the year takes indulgence to a whole new level! I know that within the context of daily healthy eating Monday through Friday, indulging on Saturday night is not going to affect me negatively. In fact, I’ve made such an occurrence a fundamental part of my routine and I really look forward to it when it comes. I do also always look forward to going back to my healthier and cleaner meals on Sunday. 

Christmas is different though: where I’m from in Sicily, we start eating on Christmas eve and hardly take a break until January 2nd! That can be a solid 8 days of consecutive feasts and let me tell you, that’ll put a dent into anyone’s wellbeing, no matter how fit and healthy they are! So how do you navigate this time without completely losing it and getting to January feeling like you’ve set yourself back a few months? It took me years to figure this out but finally, I’ve come up with a list of ten effective steps that really work for me and our shifters. They may not ALL apply to your circumstances but I’m sure MANY of them will and I have no doubt you will find some inspiration and motivation to make it through this time of the year feeling empowered and in control but equally enjoying it.

For the next four weeks, I will share with you my top tips for a VERY merry, joyful, and guilt-free Christmas. If you’d like to get all these tips in one place, feel free to visit our online store now, where you’ll be able to purchase our e-book for the discounted price of ￡5.99.

So here come the first two steps which will empower you along the way:

1. Set some non-negotiable boundaries and stick to them NO MATTER WHAT. Here’s what’s fundamental to remember, in order to set yourself up for success and avoid deprivation and “all or nothing” thinking: your non-conditionals should NOT be many nor should they be really strict. You must allow for enough wiggle room to be able to enjoy this special time, however, you should also set some standards which will keep a level of direction and commitment to your health and wellbeing so that you don’t end up going too far with the fun (which ALWAYS backfires). The goal is to make these guidelines effective but also realistic enough for you to be able to stick with the NO.MATTER.WHAT. This will make you feel more in control, confident, certain, and happy with yourself as you embark on the celebrations. It will also prevent you from self-sabotaging and getting to January feeling regretful, resentful, and bitter. Because let’s be honest, what’s fun about that?!

2. Write your non-negotiable guidelines down: just thinking about them is not enough. You must put pen to paper if you are serious about this and want this work to actually make a difference. Writing the guidelines down is the only effective way to create the new neuron-pathways necessary to reach your goals. You must really engrain these principles in your consciousness so that whenever you are tempted to break away from them (as you certainly will!) your brain will immediately remember them and keep you on track, regardless of whatever is going on around you. PLUS having your guidelines will help with tip #3. Stay tuned for more next week.

So what are you waiting for? Make this the best Christmas of your life and start 2021 as you mean to go on.

There’s no better time than NOW to #maketheshift.