3 Mindset shifts to Make this Your Healthiest 2023 The other day I had an epiphany about the holiday season… I think how you approach your eating in December can either set you up for success for the upcoming year or can start you on a path of more yo-yo diet fails and weight fluctuations than Oprah in the nineties. Hear me out… December is eat alllll the things. January is avoid all the things. By February, we’re done with this restriction B.S and ready for some Valentine’s chocolates and Super Bowl snacks. Then whoops, it’s March and we have to be swimsuit ready for spring break! Oh, but come April, we’ve got Easter, and then Mother’s Day, so we don’t want to diet…and soon enough, here comes summer so we’ve got to reign in our eating again. You see the crazy? But what if, we started the holidays with a balanced approach? One that kept the “All or Nothing” mindset in check and we were able to enjoy the holiday meals and seasonal foods WHILE still working towards our health goals? We would be able to practice moderation even in the midst of all the holiday eating, and be able to establish some habits that focused on practicing awareness and personal accountability that lasted long after the holidays are over. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, so if we want to have a different outcome this holiday season and ultimately a different start to the new year, we have to think and act differently. Are you picking up what I am laying down? Here are my top tips for going into this season with a mindset and a gameplan that will help you honor your commitment to making healthier choices and still enjoy the food and festivities of the holidays Be Forward Thinking: Have a plan in mind for how you want the event to go and make a plan. Reaching any goal starts with a vision. The same goes for considering your own behavior. Think: How Do I want this to go? How do I want to feel after the meal? Keep your vision in mind throughout the party or holiday eat-fest. Awareness Is Key: To me, this is all about the “what, why, when, and how” you are eating. It’s also the WHO you are as an Eater…I’m a big believer in “We eat what we are,” not just we are what we eat. What I mean, is that our emotions are a major factor in determining our behavior, so bringing awareness to our physical and emotional state is the first step to making a change. Ultimately, we have to pay attention to ourselves. I love the H.A.L.T Acronym. It’s your “Pause and Think” Emergency Button. Am I… H-Hungry A-Angry L-Lonely, or T-Tired? Know Thyself and Thy Environment: This goes along with paying attention to our emotional state, we must be aware of our surroundings. James Clear calls your environment “the invisible hand that guides human behavior.” Be aware of your surroundings and your triggers. This is not to say, don’t keep anything that is tempting in your house, but just know that at some point, it is very likely that either you or someone you love will consume it. You agree? Out of sight, out of mind. The same thing goes if you park yourself right in front of that buffet table. Those delicious treats are going to look better and better as the night goes on and if you’re drinking, then you are just adding fuel to the fire of your low inhibitions. Health starts with habits and habits start with mindset. Apply the above and see how this can help you with yours! Coach Rach
