I wrote this letter to my private coaching clients, but I wanted to share it on the blog too!
Dear beautiful girl,
It's Thanksgiving Eve, my in-laws are coming into town tonight, and I'm sitting on the couch typing this email while Ben is frantically cleaning and dusting (he is such a good hubby, hahahaha).
Since Thanksgiving is a food holiday I know it can bring on some stress revolving around emotional eating, food guilt, over-eating, not to mention all the family drama you might be headed into!
So I want to give you permission to take a deep breath and TURN OFF all your food judgements, labels, "clean eating" mentality, and pressure.
This is not about figuring out how to have a "21 Day Fix approved" (or even TIU approved) holiday, or making "healthy alternatives" of your fave treats.
This is not about worrying about binging or ruining all your progress, or being afraid you'll set yourself back and go down the dark spiral of uncontrolled eating and holiday weight gain. (I've got you, girl!! You know that!)
This IS about focusing on the reason for the season.
Family, friends, and gratitude.
We live in a scary scary world these days, and the last thing we need is to put more fear and bad vibes on ourselves. So let's focus on love. Self love, family love, gratitude for the blessing of waking up every single day with the choice to move our bodies, the freedom to do what we want, and the abundance of our pumpkin spice latte-fueled country we are so lucky to live in.
You are so so so lucky, blessed, and LOVED, beautiful girl.
(source)
Tips for a Healthy, Happy Thanksgiving!
1. Make sure to eat a BIG healthy breakfast Thursday morning!
May I suggest some pumpkin cranberry oatmeal? You'll need energy to carry you through the day, and if your blood sugar is stable you'll be less likely to overeat later.
Whatever you do, do NOT restrict calories to "make room" for your big meal...treat it like a normal day with some extra treats! Friends don't let friends live hangry.
2. Get your body moving first thing! Sneak in a 20-30 minute workout.
I recommend getting outside for a power walk or run to clear your head, have some alone time, and give yourself a chance to think and reflect on everything you're grateful for!
A 30 minute weight circuit (21 Day Fix or try a Hammer and Chisel sneak peek on Beachbody On Demand!) is also a good option, because strength training will boost your metabolism for the rest of the day.
3. Choose your intention for the day and let go of black and white "good or bad" rules.
What's your greatest value? Health, joy, pleasure?
Make choices based on that value!
4. Put your appetizers on a plate! Be careful not to mindlessly snack to calm your nerves or numb your anxiety, esp if you're an introvert like me!
5. Drink a glass of water in between each glass of wine or cocktail.
6. At the big meal, fill your plate with 75% salad and veggies.
7. Use the "three bite rule" for starchy or more indulgent sides.
Take only enough to eat three bites and enjoy EVERY SINGLE BITE! If you want more of your faves, go back for another small 3 bite scoop. This will prevent you from mindlessly over-eating the stuffing and sides that will make your tummy feel blerg. PLUS we want to save room for pie!!!
8. ENJOY! This holiday only comes once a year, so live it up!
Food is simply a vehicle that allows you to have energy to go out into your day. It's body and soul nourishment, part of our life and society, and enjoyment is a huge aspect of it!
Travel safe if you're on the road, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
xo Anna
p.s. Are you spending some time traveling or in the car? Make sure to listen to Jess Lively's latest podcast episode on intuitive eating through the holidays! And then let me know your takeaways :)
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