The winter holidays are officially over in my mind, but I thought an after-holiday post might be timely with the arrival of January 6th. When I was growing up, we didn’t take down our Christmas decorations until the celebration of The Three Kings, or The Epiphany, which occurs on that date. Since “epiphany” holds two meanings, what better time to launch a sudden revelation about health?
I’ve been feeling weighed down lately, not only by the emotional crash that generally accompanies the passing of the holidays, but with the unbalanced state my body seems to be in after consuming so many delicious treats. I will admit that my body has seen more refined sugar in the past few weeks than it did all year. I can only assume that, you too, may be feeling less-than-stellar.
Here are some easy steps to getting back on track after holiday indulgence.
1)Clean Up Your Pantry–healthful eating starts with a healthful cupboard. I like to discard the remnants of holiday cooking (chocolate chips, easy microwave meals, packaged snack foods, treats that were stocking stuffers) by either using them in a recipe, eating them, giving them away, or throwing them out.
2)Do a mild detox. If you’re up for a complete cleanse, speak to a natural health practitioner about options that are right for you. Having experienced a few detox and fasting rituals in my life, I wouldn’t ever make a general recommendation. Both fasting and detoxing can be harmful to the body if done inappropriately or with the wrong substances. Additionally, I know many of my readers are mamas like me, and a detox done while breastfeeding can not only strip your body of necessary calories, but also release toxins into your breastmilk. Therefore, try this light cleansing (also great for anyone wanting to “start fresh” with a change of diet):
Breakfast: 1 c. hot water + 1 T. miso. Add cooked rice or quinoa, if desired. Stir until miso is distributed.
Morning snack: Herbal tea
Lunch: Vegetables & quinoa
Afternoon snack: Fruit of your choosing
Dinner: Homemade Vegetable or Chicken Soup
Increase your intake of water and herbal tea.
Continue this menu for 1-3 days. After which, choose which meal will be your large meal of the day and substitute your regularly-scheduled meal for it. (For example, instead of chicken soup for dinner, have your usual homemade meal.)
3)Speaking of regularly-scheduled meals, PLAN! It is so much easier to eat in a healthful manner when you have already decided what to eat. I like to keep frozen rice and quinoa on hand at all times, for quick meal preparation. You can also check out my list of the best meal planning services available online.
4)Get some rest. Easier said than done, right? It took passing out on my couch at 7:00, spiking a slight fever, and feeling quite drained for a day for me to realize I need to SLOW THE F DOWN and take care of myself–by catching up on sleep. Put down the iPhone, close the laptop, turn off the t.v…. NOW! You’ll thank me 🙂
My thought is that once you rid yourself of holiday excess, you will feel better physically to embark on a further goals, be they body, mind or spirit-related, in the new year!
What goals are you focusing on this month?
This is not medical advice. Please consult a medical professional before attempting a drastic change in diet.
I’m feeling the same way right now. This Holiday season just involved too much overconsumption for me. I was good about keeping the material gifts, decorations, etc. minimalistic. But when it came to the goodies and drinks, I def went overboard. These are great tips for getting back on track. I’m getting myself back in gear by taking a Zumba class. By the way, I love your new header!
Zumba! A friend has been trying to convince me to go! I’m sure I’ll love it but I’m having a hard time with the thought of the fitness-center daycare… :-/ And thanks for the comments about the new header! More changes to come courtesy of Kim at Kalico Design 🙂