Whether you have been on your weight loss journey for a long time or you've recently decided to get ahead of the New Year's resolution, the holidays can be a hard time to stay on track. I am personally going to stay with my S/O's family for the first time and feeling nervous about sharing food and explaining the way I eat. I have a few tips I can share and hope others can share their tips as well. I know with COVID things look different, but you may still be attending family events or small gatherings.
1) Always bring something you can eat: Don't expect someone else to bring the healthy option! Bringing at least one side dish that you know meets your preference. It can empower you to stick to your goals and I'm always surprised by how many other people flock to the healthy dish too, often commenting that they are glad there is a healthier option. It can be as simple as chopped veggies and hummus. If you are staying with family for a longer period of time, I always just try to bring extra veggies that I can cook on the side. That way I'm still sharing meals with family, but I might eat a half portion of the cheeseburger soup (YUM) I normally would have, and add some steamed veggies into the dish.
2) Have your story ready: I am personally very private about my weight loss and don't like to talk about my journey to everyone and anyone. Maybe you've lost a lot of weight and people will notice, or maybe you are just starting out. Figure out the story you want to share and what your boundaries are with others before you get to where you are going. This will also help you remember why you are on whatever journey you are on to begin with.
3) Practice saying no to food pushers: Your favorite aunt knows how much you love her mac and cheese, so she made a huge dish of it just for you. How are you going to say no? You might try telling her you are already full, you'll have some later, or just having a smaller portion. Different food pushers might take different strategies, figure out yours and practice them out loud.
4) Put everything on your plate: We've all been there, standing in front of the food table stuffing cookies in our face like there is no tomorrow. You try to track what you ate later, and...you have no idea. The visual of putting everything on your plate helps you actually see how much you are eating and creates portion control. If you take some time between refilling, it will allow your stomach to process the food and send signals to your brain if you are actually full or not.
5) Set time aside to not worry about food: Give yourself a meal/day/few days to just enjoy yourself and then make a plan to get back on track. This will keep you from getting out of control for way longer then you need. Maybe you are seeing your family for a weekend and you just want to enjoy yourself the whole time. What is your plan for Monday morning? Setting the boundary and recovery plan ahead of time will make you feel a lot more in control and will truly let you relax.
These are just a few things I've learned over the years, what else works for you?
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