The Ultimate Holiday Survival Guide (+8 Healthy Recipes!)
Ahhhh it’s about that time of the year. Mariah is going strong on the radio, leaves are turning orange and crispy and every single store in America is setting up for Christmas right at midnight on October 31st. You guessed it, the holidays are officially upon us.
And while this is the coziest, warmest, most joyful time of year… It is also one of the most stressful periods of our lives. Last-minute grocery run and fighting over the last pumpkin pie. Figuring out what gift to get your dad, who literally has bought himself everything he wants and needs. Deciphering your aunts, “ I don’t need a gift! Your presence is enough.” Your cousins are asking you if you still do that weightlifting thing…. The list goes on and on! We get it. Holidays are equal parts joyful and equal parts stressful. And part of that reason is that your routine goes out the door. Now you have to adjust your schedules to make sure our health and wellness are still a priority. Easier said than done. Especially when your family and friends don’t understand your commitment (they might call it obsession) to your health and wellness. Not to worry fam. Your Grown Strong Community has your back and we wanted to share our ultimate holiday survival guide.
And while this is the coziest, warmest, most joyful time of year… It is also one of the most stressful periods of our lives. Last-minute grocery run and fighting over the last pumpkin pie. Figuring out what gift to get your dad, who literally has bought himself everything he wants and needs. Deciphering your aunts, “ I don’t need a gift! Your presence is enough.” Your cousins are asking you if you still do that weightlifting thing…. The list goes on and on! We get it. Holidays are equal parts joyful and equal parts stressful. And part of that reason is that your routine goes out the door. Now you have to adjust your schedules to make sure our health and wellness are still a priority. Easier said than done. Especially when your family and friends don’t understand your commitment (they might call it obsession) to your health and wellness. Not to worry fam. Your Grown Strong Community has your back and we wanted to share our ultimate holiday survival guide.
Holiday Survival Guide Step 1: Identify where you struggle
During the holidays, with travel and being out of our normal routine, we start to slip in these areas.
Nutrition
Exercise
Stress Management
Exercise
Stress Management
Don’t beat yourself up if you slip in these areas. The first step to surviving the holidays is recognizing where you might struggle. Knowing you struggle to stay consistent in these areas, gives you an opportunity to evaluate and come up with a game plan.
Holiday Survival Guide Step 2: Come Up With Nutrition and Fitness Game Plan
Okay. So you know you struggle with nutrition and keeping up with your fitness. Candy, cookies, pies, mashed potatoes, and gravy… holiday food is fun! But it also doesn't really check all the marks for nutritious foods. Knowing this you probably don't want to restrict yourself or go on some crash diet. Instead of saying “ I am not going to eat cookies” try “ I am going to eat a vegetable and protein at every meal of the day because I need to make sure I get all my nutrients.”
When it comes to fitness, it shouldn't be a punishment because you ate a cookie and it shouldn't be an incentive to eat “bad food.” The Grown Strong Community believes that fitness is a part of your life. Just like brushing your teeth. You do it because it makes you feel good and strong and is just another part of your life.
That being said, we understand that your time is limited during the holidays. That’s why instead of thinking you have to workout, think I need to move every day. Go for a walk, do some stretching, hold a plank for 2 min, do 10 air squats in the living room. If you can sneak into the garage or your room and get a quick GS20 workout in. You don’t have to have a perfect workout. Remember, the perfect workout is the one you do. Just move your body and you’ll be golden.
Holiday Survival Guide Step 3: Stress Management
Judgments and comments can be extremely triggering and it might make you feel extremely stressed. Not to mention feeling obligated to buy holiday gifts and traveling stress. All of these factors build up to one giant stress ball. This means that it is even more important to stick to your health and wellness routine. Make a list of non- negotiables. For example; drink lots of water every day, move your body consistently for at least 10-15 minutes per day, eat protein at every meal, take 5 minutes of your day to check in with yourself and how you are feeling. These might not seem like big actions, but trust us, sometimes the little things have the most impact.
Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to your Grown Strong Community. We all get it! It can be extremely helpful to vent or talk things through with other people who share similar experiences. Not only that but we can share tips on how to navigate certain situations and offer motivation and accountability!
Want more specifics on how to handle the holidays? Well, we have this awesome guide that breaks down holiday survival tips and tricks! It also comes with 8 delicious recipes! Check it out below, let us know if any of our tips were helpful, and feel free to share your holiday survival tips!
You can also join Grown Strong and participate in our free members only fall challenge that just started yesterday. Click HERE to sign up.
You can also join Grown Strong and participate in our free members only fall challenge that just started yesterday. Click HERE to sign up.