Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Eat the Damn Cookie

There are plenty of posts circulating that you can read about "How not to break your diet this holiday season," or "Avoid the Holiday Bulge," and "Tips for not ruining your life with all the indulgences this holiday season," etc. These are great, helpful even, if you really are one of those people who worries about diets and dieting and gaining weight "this holiday season."

Yes, I am well aware that temptations are a-plenty. Hors d'oeuvres with ooey, gooey goodness, creamy dips that make you wonder how can a bowl of white glob be so darn good. Treats, and sweets, and candy and booze, oh my!

So yes, watch what you eat, if you really must, don't gorge yourself nightly for 2 weeks straight, but if you get drunk or eat so much you need to be rolled home from the holiday festiveness, enjoy, be festive and merry and bright. Don't worry.

There is something to be said about just having a grand-ole-time with your coworkers, your friends and your family. So what if you "cheat" or are "bad" - enjoy! If you spend so much time fretting over what's in that dip or how many cookies did you really eat or what number glass of champagne is this, oh and now I must punish myself and eat salad for the next whole month, you my friend are not just being.

Embracing the holiday festiveness, enjoying the merry, love, laughter, dips, treats and champagne will not ruin you, your diet or all your hard work towards health nirvana. If anything being healthy is a lifestyle not a one-off, will be ruined by a few days of indulgences. There is health in love, in connecting with those you love, in laughing, sharing a meal and singing carols together. The feel-good hormones you get from the love and sharing that is the holiday season is nourishing enough on a soul level and will actually make you live a longer, happier and healthier life. Stressing about avoiding the snack table and bar will actually cause more damage in your inability to just be and live and love, than if you just ate the damn cookie (or 5 ;) ).

So my tip for the holiday season is try your best. Try to maintain balance. Drink some green juice to counter the cookies. Add a dark leafy green your holiday feast. If you get the chance to move your body, even if it is just dancing with your grandpa or chasing the kids, it counts! Have your Christmas morning mimosas, New Years' Eve champagne, your Hanukkah Manischewitz wine, and Festivus nog, because this time of year comes once a year. You may as well cut yourself some slack and enjoy, indulge, feel loved, give love, and just be, because you'll actually be healthier and happier than trying to remember the hundreds of tips of not gaining that holiday bulge.


Merry, festive, brightness, balance, peace, love, laughter and joy to you all. 
Cheers!