ASM Wellness Blog
In This Section:

Staying on Track During the Holidays

Posted on: December 24th, 2013 by Eric Lichtfuss

Holiday-feast-640

This time of year – from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve – my diet and schedule are unpredictable. I know, news flash, right?  But I think the fact that I’m not alone is what makes my thoughts on this relevant.  I am a guy who is all about moderation, including moderation: the old adage has worked well for me. But moderation is hard, with so many holiday parties and family gatherings. Whether it’s keeping the diet under control, not drinking too much, or managing the schedule to get enough sleep and exercise, there are more than enough ways to come off the rails. In the face of all that, many people throw the intention out the window altogether, don’t even try, and expect to get back on track in the new year. Well, statistically, your new year’s resolution probably won’t last, meaning that the plan to get back on track is one that’s fighting against the odds.

Brew-Holiday-cropI propose that you don’t throw a single thing out the window, completely. Not even for a couple of weeks. I propose that you moderate, doing the best you can, but keeping the train on the track. Mind what you eat: trying not to eat yourself into a turkey coma, or sugar hangover, but enjoy sharing rich foods with your loved ones. Same goes with the booze. Pat Flynn wrote a nice piece  In Defense of Alcohol: “Why Drinking is Good For You”, in moderation, for most people, but not all.  If you exercise regularly, but don’t have time for a full blown workout, that’s no reason not to get up and move or sweat for even just a few minutes. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, well, make sure that the reasons are actually worth it. I skipped a friend’s party last night, not because I wouldn’t have loved to see everyone there, but because I was exhausted and knew that I wouldn’t enjoy their company as much as I should have, and I might have wound up with a migraine today from accumulated lack of sleep.  Love those people at that party, but I think they would all understand.

See what I’m getting at here?  By continuing on your path of creating or maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you avoid a large and difficult climb to get back on track. So enjoy the Holidays, and all the indulgence that comes with.  Just enjoy them with mindfulness of where you want to be in the New Year. Then you will probably find it much easier to get back on track, once it’s time for the good ol’ resolutions.

Images courtesy Saveur

Comments are closed.

SensAbility is the teaching clinic of ASM Wellness
It's where Atlanta School of Massage, Atlanta Institute of Aesthetics and Atlanta Personal Trainer Program
provide a wide range of wellness services to the public.
2 Dunwoody Park South
Atlanta, GA 30338
Phone: 770-454-7167
FacebookBlogPinterestGoogle+TwitterYouTubeInstagram

2 Dunwoody Park South, Suite 105
Atlanta, GA 30338
Phone: 770-454-7167