Did you over-indulge on Christmas cookies and your favorite holiday dishes this week? Me too! Fear not, I have the BEST secret to help you get back on track after the holidays!
Don’t let the overindulgence of holiday food leave you feeling discouraged as you get ready to kick off the new year. I have a simple strategy that helps me get right back on track every time!
CONFESSION: I ate dozens of cookies this holiday season.
And if I am being completely honest with you, I am not even mad about it! We were super blessed with Christmas cookies from our neighbors and friends. So naturally, I HAD to try them all and I am glad I did. It was a delicious couple of weeks, to say the least!
However, I will say that my workouts (which I have mostly kept up on) have been a bit more difficult. I find my legs fatiguing much quicker during runs. Turns out sugar is not a good fuel source! Shocker! (insert sarcasm)
But guess what, instead of feeling guilty for my decisions, I am going to simply do what I always do to get back on track after the holidays (or after any time that I fall off the healthy eating wagon).
What NOT to Do to Get Back on Track after the Holidays
DON’T Beat yourself up. Remember, you are human like the rest of us. Give yourself grace and move on.
DON’T Believe you are too far gone. Sometimes we can feel like we have screwed up too much for too long that change would require major, painful surgery! Not true. You never too far gone. Small consistent changes over time make huge changes.
Small consistent changes over time make huge changes.
DON’T Continue unhealthy eating. You enjoyed the holiday season. Awesome. Now it’s time to get back on track. Don’t use your past unhealthy eating as an excuse to continue unhealthy eating.
Why it’s important to Get Back on Track after the Holidays
So we have confessed that we fell off track, and we know what NOT to do. But before I reveal my #1 secret for getting back on track after the holidays to you, let’s remember why it’s important in the first place. I find that with any change in life, it’s always easier to stick to it when I remember the ‘why’.
As Christian women, daughters of the Creator of the world, we must remember this key truth: our bodies are a gift. We are created for one purpose alone and that is to glorify the creator, God the Father.
Let your light shine so that others will see the good that you do and praise your Father in Heaven.
Matthew 5:16
All that we do should point to and glorify God. But, we can only do this well when we take care of our bodies. Does that mean we never enjoy Christmas cookies or your mom’s famous pretzel jello?
No.
But this does mean that when we do fall off track, we are responsible for getting back on track in order to be good stewards of our bodies so that we can glorify God. For a deep dive study into why it is important to be a good steward of your body, check out part 2 of a recent three-part series I did about the Proverbs 31 Woman (it’s so good you might want to watch all three! You can find part 2 here!
My #1 Secret to Getting Back on Track After the Holidays
It’s so simple you are going to love it! This is a strategy that you can keep in your back pocket and use time after time because you and I both know that we are going to be eating lots of Christmas cookies again in 2020!
So here goes.
My #1 secret for getting back on track after the holidays is by keeping a food journal.
What does it mean to keep a Food Journal?
Keeping a food journal simply means writing down all the food you eat (including beverages).
Why does keeping a Food Journal work?
Food journaling forces you to be accountable to everything you put in your body.
When I am in a season of getting back on track and using a food journal, I find myself much more intentional and selective with what I put in my body. Mostly because I don’t want to admit I had 3 cookies at breakfast, so I choose a healthier option instead.
Also, food journaling can be tedious. Writing down everything you eat takes time (though it is easy to do when you sit down for three meals a day… write while you eat). However, to avoid having to constantly write every handful of pretzels that I eat (but don’t need to eat), I just choose not to eat them.
In those ways, keeping a food journal will help you to make healthier choices and therefore, get you back on track.
How long do I need to keep a Food Journal for?
You might be wondering if you have to keep up this habit for long. I suppose it depends on the personality of the person and the need.
Personally I only keep a food journal for about 2-3 weeks when I feel like I need to get back on track. Once I have kept the food journal for that period of time, I find that my eating habits are back to normal and I am making good choices again.
However, I do know some people who like to keep a food journal 365 days a year. That’s, of course, your call. The food journal that I use allows for both options, so it will work for you no matter how you choose to use it!
My Favorite Tools for Getting Back on Track
Now for the fun part! I love tools, journals, paper, pens, planners, you get my point. And when I get to share them with people, I get excited!
My favorite tool for getting back on track with healthy eating is the Intentionally U Food Journal. This journal is simple, easy to use and small enough to throw in a purse.
I love that it is un-dated so that I can use it only as needed. The dated journals are wasteful to me since I don’t keep a food journal regularly.
Each one week spread contains just enough space to track my weight, sleep habits, meals, and water intake. I love the water intake part the most because I just cross off one of the little cups each time I have a glass of water! So easy, no adding up ounces all day.
Lastly, I love the “How I Felt Today” box. At the end of each day I jot down how I felt throughout the day (tired, energized, foggy, clear-minded, etc.) This helps me to see patterns between the food that I eat and the way that I feel. Then I can easily avoid the foods that made me feel poorly and choose more foods that make me feel good.
Then at the end of the week, I can look back and tweak and change for the next week! It is a simple, easy strategy that works! Give it a try.
For a limited time, I am offering a FREE Intentionally U Food Journal (not a printable, an actual journal shipped to YOU) with the purchase of the 2020 Intentionally U Planner! Simply use the code FREEJOURNAL2020 at the checkout!
If you are looking to be more intentional in all of your self-care habits (above and beyond just eating), then the 2020 Intentionally U Planner is a must!
The 2020 Intentionally U Planner is specifically designed to help women prioritize self-care so that they can love and serve those around them. Remember being a good steward of your mind and body glorifies God. When we feel good, we have more energy to do God’s will.
Grab your 2020 Intentionally U Planner AND FREE Intentionally U Food Journal to make 2020 a great year for you and your family! Trust me, when you take care of yourself, it blesses those around you too!
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