I have had several conversations of late with people already lamenting their dietary lapses due to Christmas and holiday festivities, and asking for advice on how to keep to their diets. My response to them, and to you is this – FORGET IT!! For goodness sakes, unless you have a hypersensitivity to a particular food or a medical condition such as Diabetes, a week or two of less than perfect diet is perfectly acceptable, so give yourself a break.
I always suffer a reaction from strawberries each year, which manifests as big red lumps on my face. Even when I try to ‘ready’ my system by just 1 or 2 strawberries a day for a week before indulging in any greater quantity, it still gets me most years. I love strawberries, and am just not that worked up about looking perfect for everyone else, at the cost of denying myself one of lifes pleasures over a short period.
Diets should be ‘lifestyle based’ not regimented weight loss focused. It’s more about adopting a long term healthy eating and exercise pattern; a few lapses for special life events just doesn’t matter. I actually believe its a good test to see what foods or temptations you are still sensitive to. So what if you enjoy a bit of chocolate and a few extra wines for a week or two. Have faith in yourself, that overall, your approach to your health is good and you deserve the enjoyment of a few treats now and then.
A good technique is the ‘pay it forward’ approach. If you know you are going out for a special lunch or party, make sure you do your exercise program that day, and maybe strive a bit harder or bit longer to work off a few extra calories beforehand, and to keep your metabolism burning.
Use a few tricks like drinking two glasses of water for each glass of wine, and only having a taste of something delectable, rather than eating the whole thing. I honestly believe that if you deny yourself every treat, you will become so focused on the food that you are ‘missing’ that you end up eating far more in calories in other ‘better substitute’ options, than if you allow yourself a small indulgence of the real thing.
So get over it, and get out there and have fun.
Merry Xmas and See You Back in the New Year
Nicola
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I hope you all have a great day and hope to see you all here again after Christmas. Merry Christmas Everyone!
A healthy diet will always be composed of high fiber frutis and veggies, low sugar, low carb and rich in protein.~~,
i think we should be focusing more on healthy diets not on junk foods that kids love to eat~:”